박헌성 목사 한영설교집 제7권 중에서(225)

행여라도 거짓말하지 말아야 해요. 추측해서 말하지 말아야 해요. “누가 그러는데…”

We should by no means lie, nor hastily assume anything without any clear reasons, like “Someone said that…”

이런 저런 소문 있는데…그런 말하지 말아야 해요. 그런 말 듣지도 말아야 해요.

You should never say, nor listen to any words like, “There are some rumors going around…”

왜요? 은혜롭지 않는 말, 불친절한 말, 나쁜 말, 부정적인 말, 욕하고 비방하고 파괴적인 말, 상처되는 말, 남에게 유익이 되지 않는 어설픈 얘기 하지도 말고 듣지도 말아야 합니다.

Why? We should never speak of or listen to any unedifying words, unkind words, unrighteous words, negative words, insulting and accusatory and destructive words, hurtful words, and unbeneficial or ill-advised words.

어떤 여집사님이 남편 예수 믿으라고 열심히 기도했는데 믿지를 않고 놀러만 다닙니다.

There was one deaconess who hads been praying for her husband that he may be saved.

너무 미우니까 “하나님, 저 인간 다리 몽둥이를 부러뜨려서라도 믿게 해 주십시요.”

But he kept refusing to believe, choosing rather to go to different places than to a church. So out of frustrations, she prayed, “Lord, if it is necessary for him to believe, please break his leg.”

얼마 후에 남편이 교통사고로 다리가 부러지더니 정말 예수를 믿더라는 것입니다.

After some days, her husband got into an accident and his leg was broken, which somehow eventually led him to Christ later on.

하필이면 다리를 부러뜨려서 믿게 해달라고 기도할게 뭡니까?

But was it necessary that she should have prayed that her husband may have a broken leg?

그렇습니다. 말은 중요합니다. 선한 말해야 합니다. 들으면 들을수록 기분이 좋은 말이 은혜로운 말을 해야 합니다.

That’s right! Words are important. We have to speak kind words. We have to speak words that pleasing to the ears and edifying to the heart.

들어서 마음이 아프고, 들어서 상처가 되는 말은 들어서 자존심이 상하고 유익이 안 되는 말은 하지 말아야 합니다.

We should never speak of words that are scarring, hurtful, offensive, and unbeneficial at all.

남의 아이를 볼 때도 그저 ‘이쁘구나, 잘 생겼구나.’ 하면 되는데 엄마, 아빠는 괜찮은데 아이는 빈대떡 같네.

Even in complimenting upon a child, you should rather say, “You are so pretty. You are so handsome,” instead of “The parents are good looking. But their child’s appearance is weak and unimpressive.”

‘집사님, 요사이 이뻐지네. 좋은 일 많은가 봐’ 그러면 그 사람 기분이 좋아서 빨리 화장실에 가서 거울 한번 더 본다고요. 얼마나 좋습니까?

Your wise words like, “Hello, dear, you are getting prettier these days! Something good must be happening to you!”, can definitely make the person feel good about herself and encouraged even more. How wonderful, isn’t it?

그런데 집사님, 요즘 왜 그래? 얼굴이 형편 없어. 남편이 속 썩여? 얼굴이 쏙 빠졌어. 왜 그렇게 삐쩍 말라.

Instead of commenting, “Hello, dear, what happened to you these days? You look so lifeless, haggard, and unhappy these days! Your husband is giving you a hard time? You got so skinny to the bone!”, it is much wiser to say, “

이왕이면 날씬해서 좋아 하면 얼마나 좋아요. 뚱뚱한 사람 보면 ‘집사님은 언제나 봐도 푸근해서 좋아, 안전감이 있어.’ 선한 말 많이 하시기를 축원합니다.

“Dear, you look so fabulous! You must have lost a lot of weight!” To someone who might be slightly overweight, you could wisely encourage, “Hello, dear, you are always so friendly, welcoming, and encouraging!”

다음에 계속(To be continued)…