The More The Words

While in Cairo last month, my young Egyptian friend was telling me about a disagreement between him and an American worker. (We say "worker" rather than "missionary" for security purposes, and also because Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful but the "workers" are few.) The American worker had encouraged a mutual friend/believer from a Muslim background to be more open about her faith. My Egyptian friend argued that she should be quieter. He wanted to know what I thought, so I told him that every MBB's situation is unique, so it needs wisdom.

I carefully suggested to my Egyptian friend that the issue may not be the issue at all. The problem might be that he shares his options too quickly and talks too much. This was the fifth time I had met him. I reminded him that I told him he talked too much near the end of the third time that we met. I tried to help him understand that God has given him a very social personality, but that doesn't mean he can't learn how to engage others with questions and then patiently listen rather than always speaking his mind. He received it with humility.

A few minutes later in the conversation, he opened his phone to show me his 5-star Uber rating. To his surprise, it had become a 4.9 because his most recent passenger had written, "Driver talks too much"! I couldn't help laughing out loud when he said, "It's a sign from God!" Later, I sent him these verses....

Ecclesiastes 6:11 "The more the words, the less the meaning, and how does that profit anyone?"

Proverbs 10:19 "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."

James 1:9 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger"

Would you pray for my friend to have more humility in his relationships, to be patient as he listens to others, and to continue to share the gospel boldly with many Muslims, as he is doing? He truly does have compassion for the lost and a passion for Jesus to be worshiped among all Arabs.