Out of the Mouth
Thursday, September 24, 2009
"O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."
Matthew 12:34-37
A sharp tongue is the only edged tool that grows keener with constant use.-Washington Irving
William Norris, known for his witty sayings, once wrote:
If your lips would keep from slips,
Five things observe with care:
To whom you speak; of whom you speak;
And how, and when, and where.
The tongue is probably one of the toughest things to control. In a day of wit, sarcasm, and quick responses, many people fail to think before they speak. Yet, it is also the tongue that often gets people in trouble. Just as much as an encouraging word can be helpful, so a negative remark can be dangerous.
Many times in the Bible, God warns against hasty replies, negative remarks, and thoughtless words. Here in our verses, Christ rebukes the Pharisees for their haughty speech that masked their corrupt hearts. They talked a good talk, but their hearts did not match their words.
God gives us a warning about speech in our verses, "That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned." Every word we say, whether said in private, public, or even written, will be accounted for one day.
Consider that statement. You will be held accountable for everything you've ever said or written. Many people in our world want to believe that words are insignificant. What you say doesn't really matter. Even if you make a mistake, it will be forgotten. But God tells us that every idle word will be accounted for.
Do you remember the child's statement, "Sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me." That might sound like a good saying, but in reality, words can hurt us. The words we speak can hurt our relationship with Christ and others.
How often do you take time to think before you speak? So much heartache and regret could be avoided if people thought before they spoke! Yet many times people respond quickly without properly choosing their words.
God desires that you would take time to consider your words. He tells us that out of the heart the mouth speaketh. If you find your words to be critical, demeaning, or even sinful, consider your heart. Is everything right with God? Are you hiding some sin? A clean heart is shown through right words.
Also, make it a practice to think before you speak. Don't allow the emotions of the moment to dictate your speech, but take time to pray, seek God's words, and respond how Christ would respond. As you take time to think before you speak, you will find that God often wants you to respond differently than your flesh wants to respond. Choose to be more Christ-like in your words today.
To learn more about the ministries of Lancaster Baptist Church and Pastor Chappell, please visit lancasterbaptist.org, paulchappell.com, or follow him on twitter.
