NAG, NAG, NAGGING

One definition of the word “nag” is to “worry or annoy continually.”

Funk and Wagnall's dictionary defines "nag" in the following manner: "To torment with constant faultfinding, scolding and urging".

Almost all people love peace and quiet and try to escape from a continual barrage of reminders or criticisms. Too often, the word is applied to women, but men can also be nags.

Quarrelsome nagging, a steady stream of unwanted advice, is a form of torture.

It seems true that a person who constantly finds fault, worries or urges us to do something will grate on our nerves in time, whether they are a man or woman.

People nag because they think they are not getting through, but in my opinion, nagging hinders communication more than it helps.

The problem lies in the nature and character of the one doing the nagging. Sometimes they do not realize that they are getting on everyone’s nerves. Sometimes they simply will not believe that they are nags.

When tempted to engage in this destructive habit, stop and examine your motives. Are you more concerned in getting your way, in being right, than the person you are pretending you want to help?

If you have the right reasons and are more concerned about other people, think of a more effective way to get through to them. Surprise them with words of patience and love and see what happens.

The gift of God is eternal life to all who believe. Believing carries with it the responsibility to change. Every flaw within us needs to be recognized and worked with. Finding something wrong with everything and everybody is an attitude that not only needs to, but can be, changed. God would not require us to be a new person every day if it were not possible. We can start by paying attention to our words. Stop and think before the words spill out of our mouths. When we pause and think, we can learn how to make our speech show love and concern to all we meet. We can even learn to speak with words that will make people want to listen. " Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer to everyone." (Colossians 4:6)

When we tell others about something or about Christ for that matter, it is important always to be gracious in what we say. No matter how much sense the message makes, we lose our effectiveness if we are not courteous. Just as we like to be respected, we must respect others if we want them to listen to what we have to say. "Seasoned with salt" means that what we say should be "tasty" and should encourage further dialogue. "As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." (Proverbs 27:17)

We shouldn't forget that mental sharpness comes from being around good people. Furthermore, it is a fact that a meeting of minds can help people see their ideas with new clarity, refine them, and shape them into brilliant insights. This is a requirement to all discussion partners who can challenge one another and stimulate thought - people who focus on the idea without involving their egos in the discussion; people who know how to attack the thought and not the thinker. People who bring their ideas together can help each other become sharper.

When Jesus spoke, crowds gathered because His words were words of encouragement. Never once did Jesus nag. Be like Him.

Jesus didn't nag, and neither should we.