Proverbs 13.17
“A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing.”
There are four dimensions to being a messenger or ambassador:
Mindset = The mood of the messenger. Attitude.
Message = The content being communicated. What.
Motive = The intention or purpose that directs the messenger. Why.
Method = The communication technique the messenger uses. How.
Faithfulness and integrity are essential for all four dimensions of an effective and trustworthy messenger. A “wicked” messenger is not trustworthy or reliable because they lack integrity in the four dimensions.
A faithful messenger brings discipline to the way they communicate. They are disciplined in their mindset and mood so that they express the right emotion when they communicate. They do not let mismanaged emotions speak for them.
They are disciplined in the message they communicate. They are committed to truth. If they are careful to verify or validate that a message is true.
They are disciplined about their motive. Their intent is to be helpful, supportive, and productive. They communicate in order to build up, not tear down. They seek to heal, not hurt.
They are disciplined about their method. They use a way of communicating that is honest, open, and clear. They don’t deceive, manipulate, or hide relevant facts.
*Note: These four communication disciplines are amplified if you are a leader, teacher, coach, parent, journalist, or politician. Communicating is one of the most important things a leader does.
Here is what the apostle Paul says about being a faithful messenger of the gospel:
“Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.” (2 Cor 4.1-2)
To be a faithful ambassador of God’s truth requires that we speak with clarity, confidence, and courage. It also requires rejecting anything manipulative or deceitful. Do not “tamper” with God’s word. Do not try to make it say something it doesn’t say. Don’t soften the hard things of scripture, and don’t harden the soft things of scripture. Speak God’s word openly and clearly.
Discernment is essential, because deceitful messengers will use stimulating and attractive methods to communicate a distorted message and hide their true motives. As a result, wicked messengers not only “fall into trouble,” but they cause others to fall into trouble as well. Deceitful messengers tell people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear.
Scripture gives this warning: “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4.3-4)
This describes a situation where the messenger and listeners are both at fault. It describes a situation where people reject truth in favor of messengers that tell them things that stimulate their undisciplined passions and preferences. Unfortunately, this happens far too often in our culture. And wherever it happens, it is a recipe for disaster.
May we be truth-tellers. By the open statement of the truth, may we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God.
Trust God and be a faithful messenger.
