Most animals make some kind of noise, alerting us to their existence. Even mosquitoes announce their presence. Snakes rarely make any noise. Snakes are wise because they live in silence, rarely disturbing anyone. It is rare for us to see a snake and to hear any noise because it is there. Because of this great wisdom key, snakes flourish and prosper more than any other wild animal.
1. Hiding and flourishing will protect you from premature exposure.
Advertisement is good and it has its positive effects. But when you are loud when you should be silent, you are endangering your very life and ministry. A certain level of exposure is not necessary all the time. When Jesus’ ministry was exposed, it was just a matter of time until He was killed. This is the reason why He limited His exposure until a certain point. Do not think that you need to be seen and known by everyone all the time. There is a time to be quiet and silent and there is a time to be seen.
The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.
Go up to the feast yourselves; I do not go up to this feast because My time has not yet fully come.” Having said these things to them, He stayed in Galilee. John 7:7-9
2. Hiding and flourishing is a godly practice.
God Himself hides from us! God hides from us because of our pride and presumption. It humbles us and makes us seek Him until we find Him. Learning to hide is to become an imitator of God. Have you ever wondered why the Bible teaches, ‘remove thy foot from thy neighbour’s house lest he be weary of thee and so hate thee?’ The more you are seen, the more you are despised. That is why removing your foot from your neighbour’s house is important. You are more respected and valued because you hide yourself!
Truly, You are a God who hides Himself, O God of Israel, Savior!
Isa 45:15 (NASB)
3. Quietness and silence will cause you to command the respect of outsiders.
It is important to be quiet sometimes. Most people are uneasy around quiet people. When there is a meeting, a quiet person is often asked his opinion. He is often respected more because of his posture. If you want people to respect you, learn to keep quiet. The serpent that lies quietly in the grass without making a sound is one of the most feared and respected animals in the world.
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life MAY WIN THE RESPECT OF OUTSIDERS and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)
4. Silence will help you to hear from God.
“Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). This popular scripture is telling you to be silent and quiet so that you can hear from God.
Many times, Christians do not hear from God because they are too busy talking, chatting or singing. I once spoke to a millionaire who got saved in prison. I asked him why he waited until he went to prison before he got saved. He explained, ‘When you are out of prison, there are so many people to interact with. When I was in prison I had no one to talk to and no meetings to attend. It was there I began to commune with God.’
You will definitely hear from God when you cut out the chatting, the talking and the human interaction. Notice the scripture below. It was when there was silence that he heard the voice of God.
Then a spirit passed before my face; the hair of my flesh stood up: It stood still, but I could not discern the form thereof: an image was before mine eyes, THERE WAS SILENCE, AND I HEARD A VOICE, SAYING, shall mortal man be more just than God? Shall a man be more pure than his maker? Job 4:12-17
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were judged to be people who could stand in the king’s palace. Not everyone has the ability to work with a leader. “Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and SUCH AS HAD ABILITY IN THEM TO STAND IN THE KING’S PALACE, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans” (Daniel 1:4). Most important people would not like to have a blabber mouth near them. People who talk too much cannot work in sensitive places. A leader even needs guidance in choosing whom to work with. May these guide you!
theaol@ymail.com
By Dag Heward-Mills