Bully
Copyright © August 2, 2004
by Robert Wayne Atkins, P.E.
All Rights Reserved.
Bullies can be big or small, either little boys or strong men.
They can be male or female, either young girls or old women.
A bully can be anyone who is bigger than someone smaller.
Or a bully can be someone who likes to talk about another.
A bully can hurt someone by causing pain that is physical,
or a bully can cause pain that is primarily psychological.
Sometimes the pain is outwardly visible for everyone to see,
such as a cut, broken bone, blackened eye, or bruised knee.
Sometimes the pain is inside and it cuts straight to the heart,
and it is usually caused by a tale that is told in whole or in part.
Do you sometimes act like a bully without thinking about it?
Do you cause others pain when you know you really shouldn't?
When we are kind to the least among us, God is very glad.
When we cause pain to the least among us, God is very sad.
Reference Scripture Verses
1 Samuel 17:4-10 - A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall. He had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of scale armor of bronze weighing five thousand shekels; on his legs he wore bronze greaves, and a bronze javelin was slung on his back. His spear shaft was like a weaver's rod, and its iron point weighed six hundred shekels. His shield bearer went ahead of him. Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, "Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us." Then the Philistine said, "This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other."
2 Peter 2:12-13 - They are like brute beasts, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts they too will perish. They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done.
Proverbs 25:15 - a gentle tongue can break a bone.
Proverbs 10:19 - When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Proverbs 11:12 - A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue.
Proverbs 12:18 - Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
Matthew 25:34-40 - 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.' Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matthew 10:42 - "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."
Mark 9:42-48 - And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied around his neck. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'
Matthew 12:34-37 - "For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
James 1:26 - If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
James 3:6 - The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Proverbs 11:13 - A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.
Proverbs 10:18 - whoever spreads slander is a fool.
2 Timothy 2:16 - Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.
James 4:11-11 - Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you -- who are you to judge your neighbor?
Proverbs 6:16-19 - There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.
Proverbs 26:20 - Where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.
Grandpappy's e-mail address is: RobertWayneAtkins@hotmail.com