Be tactful !

Wednesday 23 June 2021

Be tactful !

“May your word always be full of grace and seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to respond to each one.” Colossians 4. 6

When Daniel and his friends arrived at Nebuchadnezzar's court, they were faced with a dilemma. Would they agree to eat the king's meals or remain faithful to the divine recommendations they were supposed to follow, even captives in Babylon. How to solve the problem without offending the king or displeasing God ? By being very tactful. "Tact is the art of saying what you think without turning your partner into an enemy," said Isaac Newton. Let us imitate Daniel who, despite his youth, knew how to manage a difficult situation, without alienating the chief of staff to whom the king had entrusted the education of Daniel and his companions. He certainly listened with kindness to the young Hebrew's request, but refused it (Daniel 1:10). Daniel therefore chose to be silent and waited until he was alone with the steward responsible for taking care of them, to offer him a deal that was not dangerous for both parties, since no one else was to be informed. What can we learn from this ?

1- We carefully choose the right interlocutor when we want to discuss any subject that is important to us. Let’s not waste our time framing our point of view.

2- Let us be precise in our presentations and dare to suggest solutions acceptable to all. Daniel made the steward realize for himself that the diet chosen by Daniel was better and giving a satisfactory result. Sometimes it is better to let our interlocutor believe that he is the source of the solution, even if we have put him on the trail ! Note that the steward did not rush into the chief of staff's office to tell him that he had changed the regime for young Hebrews. The Bible tells us that the steward “took away the food and wine from their meal and gave them vegetables” (v. 16). Discretion, relevance of the suggestions, and above all the choice beforehand of the right attitude to adopt. Daniel did not decide at the last minute to refuse the king's regime ; he had "resolved" in advance to behave thus (v. 8). Do not wait until you are faced with difficult choices to adopt the right behavior !

Source (His Word for Today)