"Whatever"
“Whatever” has become a very negative response to someone
during a discussion. The Urban Dictionary says that the reply is an indication
that you are indifferent or no longer care about the situation. In a
conversation between parent and child, the one word answer is probably met with
anger and displeasure. Between friends it is probably just shrugged off, but either
way, it is not a nice way of reacting.
When Jesus used the word, it was in a very different way
than our culture today. He said that He could do nothing by Himself; He could
do only what He saw His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son does also. (John 5:19) He also
said, “Whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
In the book of Philippians, Paul uses the word whatever too.
He says that whatever happens we
should conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. He also declares
that we should think on whatever is
true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. And a
t the end of the book Paul said that he had learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
But of all the references to the word whatever in the Bible,
perhaps the most important reference is in Colossians 3:17, which says And whatever you do, whether in word or
deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father
through Him.
So the next time someone uses the word “whatever “in a
negative way towards me, I’m going to try and remember that my response
represents my Father and I want to make Him proud by using kind and gentle
words and thanking Him for loving me and saving me.
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