WORDS

by Glenice Mills

Words! So many words!

Have you ever wondered what Father God hears with the billions of conversations taking place through out the world?

Just think: He knows what we will say even before we say it.

It is mind boggling to think. Yet we will be judged for the words we speak. That is very sobering.

Consider all the words you have spoken today. How many of them have been affirming? How many are prattle, of no substance and use to anyone?

Maybe your words have spoken life to someone, bringing clarity to a situation, or wisdom that has brought resolution to a problem.

Perhaps your words have created emotional damage to someone and caused your reputation to be tarnished?

The truth is you can’t take words back once they are spoken. They have gone out there. We have all been guilty of speaking unwisely. We have all hurt someone by our words. However we can stop, and become more aware of the words we do speak. Scripture tells us to be slow to speak.

There are a number of problems that arise with words.

They can be taken out of context – This is particularly dangerous when there is an agenda to try and twist what is spoken by taking one sentence and elaborating on that without considering the complete context. We see this happening all the time when politicians say something. The media then makes it say something it is not.

One-liners can be throwaway lines but they are often scathing, mocking, and appear smart, but are in fact stupid and foolish. They can do a lot of damage.

We hear this a lot, and we then joke about ‘foot in mouth disease’. It is not a laughing matter.

Opinions – there are so many opinions out there, many not founded on fact but rather hearsay. How much misunderstanding has occurred because of someone’s strong opinions?  These opinions have swayed and impacted many people.

How often do we hear the loud minority speaking as though they are representing the silent majority? We are seeing this at the moment with the debate on same sex marriage. If we hear something being said for long enough we then begin to subtly embrace it as truth. That is how compromise sneaks in.

Are you one who has lots to say? You find it difficult to restrain yourself from passing an opinion or thought. You just can’t seem to stop speaking. It is often because of anxiety, because you feel uncomfortable in a situation.

Proverbs 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.

Proverbs 17:27,28 He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.

Perhaps we all need to learn to be wiser with our words, rather than being foolish. It is not an easy thing to do.

It is the ‘how’ we deliver words which is often the problem. If our tone is argumentative, angry, forceful or harsh no matter what we say will be misinterpreted leading to great misunderstanding. Maybe we come across as patronizing, making people feel put down, and ‘small’.

Matthew 12:34 For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Bad attitudes are expressed in our words. These bad attitudes come from our heart issues. It is always good to reflect on what we say and particularly the attitude as we say something. We know our hearts are wicked and are a true reflection of our sinful nature. Be quick to repent of our heart issues. The Lord can change hearts when we repent and choose to speak and behave in a Godly way.

Let’s be aware that we don’t speak lies. Lies are a cover up for fear and shame and before we know it we have dug a hole for ourselves that can take some undoing.

Let’s use our words to speak truth instead of lies, words of honour rather than dishonor, respect instead of disrespect.

God is requiring a higher standard of us. The world is watching and one of the most obvious ways we can display righteousness is by the way we speak. Use our words to build one another up, rather than tearing down, don’t come in agreement with gossip by using words in judgment of one another.

Matthew 12:35-37 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Words are powerful! Watch what you speak!