Watch Your Words!
According to Psychology Today, “The average person complains between 15-30 times each day.” How often do you feel the need to ‘vent’ to a friend? Are your conversations at work filled with gossip about your lazy colleague or mean boss? Do you speak in a judgmental way about your brother and sisters in Christ? Could our words reveal that we have hearts of stone instead of hearts of flesh? James 3:9-10 says, “With it [our tongue] we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth comes blessing and curse. My brothers, these things out not to be so.” Brothers and sisters, my prayer is that this would not describe us. We need to examine our words to see what is in our hearts so that we can find cleansing from God.
Where does evil come from?
Our words are like a window into our soul. Our words show the real us. Consider the words of Jesus, in Luke 6:43-45:
“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Jesus’ words are clear. Our words reveal what’s in our hearts. If my speech is full of gossip, complaining, or lies, then my heart is full of evil. If my words are characterized by thankfulness, love, and worship, then my heart is full of good treasure.
Believers, we need to seriously examine ourselves. What is the treasure of our hearts? Examine your church’s culture. Consider whether it is the culture that Paul commands in Ephesians 4:29-32:
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice. Be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving one another as God in Christ forgive you.”
Believers, we must be different from the world. We should not be complaining or ‘venting’ about others. We should not be known for our gossip at work. Why? If Christ has changed us, then we should live changed lives. We do not want to grieve the Holy Spirit. If we speak about Christ’s great love, yet we speak in anger, will the lost believe our message? If we speak of Christ’s offer of forgiveness and eternal life, yet refuse to forgive, will our lost friends see the beauty of the gospel? Our words show what is in our hearts. They can tear others down or build them up. Our speech affects our witness and can grieve the Holy Spirit. Is your heart bearing good fruit?
Find Hope and Joy in Forgiveness!
If you are bearing bad fruit, there is hope! God is a merciful God! He can cleanse us from all our sin. He can cleanse our hearts. Consider the words of David from Psalm 51. David had committed an affair with Bathsheba, tried to cover up his sin, and murdered Uriah, her husband. When God used a prophet to convict David of his sin, he prayed these words (Psalm 51:10-15):
“Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit. Then I will teach transgressors your ways and sinners will return to you. Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. O Lord open my lips and my mouth will declare your praise.”
Understanding his deep sinfulness and need for a clean heart, David went to the Lord. He realized that the Lord, alone, could cleanse him. God, alone, could forgive Him. This kind of salvation leads to joy, forgiveness, and deliverance from guilt. When we realize what God has saved us from, we will have great joy, which leads us to tell others about our great savior. When we go to Jesus for cleansing, He will change our hearts – and then we will start bearing good fruit. Our words will change from ungratefulness to proclamation of God’s greatness. These are the sorts of words that point sinners to the Savior!
Jacob Ward is a graduate student, accountant, and leader in college student ministry in the Kansas City area. He is passionate about evangelism, Bible study, and missions. His long-term plans include missions in a foreign context.
