Presenting ...
... a weekly letter of encouragement.
June 14, 1993
Good Morning!
"Better to be thought a fool...then to open one's mouth
and remove all doubt."
The embarrassing thing about our speech is that it reveals the true condition of our heart:
"...What fills the heart will rise to the lips...For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders." (Matthew 12:34;15:19 TCNT/NAS)
One problem we face in attempting to hide the inner corruption of our hearts is the difficulty of subduing an uncooperative tongue:
"No one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord...and with it we curse men..." (James 3:8, 9)
So how do I gain control over my speech? Here are four suggestions:
#1 Clean up your heart and your speech will tend to take care of itself: "A good man gives out good - from the goodness stored in his heart; a bad man gives out evil - from his store of evil." (Matthew 12:34)
#2 Don't talk so much: "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise." (Proverbs 10:19)
#3 Get all the facts before giving your opinion: "He who gives an answer before he hears, it is folly and shame to him." (Proverbs 18:13) (Also Proverbs 18:17)
#4 If you can't say something positive, then
don't say anything:: "Let no unwholesome words
pass your lips, but only such a word as is good for
benefiting others according to the need of the moment."
(Ephesians 4:29 NAS/WEY)
As a deterrent to reckless speech, it might be helpful to keep
in mind the fact that God is holding us accountable for what we
say:
"BUT I TELL YOU THAT MEN WILL HAVE TO GIVE ACCOUNT ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT FOR EVERY CARELESS WORD THEY HAVE SPOKEN. FOR BY YOUR WORDS YOU WILL BE ACQUITTED, AND BY YOUR WORDS YOU WILL BE CONDEMNED." (MATTHEW 12:36, 37)
Have a great week!
Dwight Hill
© Copyright 1996 Dwight Hill. Unlimited permission to copy or use is hereby granted subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.
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