What's That You Say?

Read the words of the Scripture carefully.  We use a LOT of words throughout the day, don't we?  Some of us love to talk and some prefer to listen more than talk, but we all use a LOT of words.  

 

Have you ever given thought to the words we use? Do we use our words to tear down another so we can "look good"?  Do we use our words to build our own reputations up, whether they are true or not?  Or do we use our words to truthfully build up others?  Do we used our words to truly encourage others?

 

Here's an honest slap in the face that I have felt: "What's in your heart will be expressed by your words!" Let's take it a step further: When Jesus was asked what was the greatest commandment; Jesus' response was "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength; and the second is like unto it in that you should love others as you love yourselves."  Therefore, should we not use the same words with others that we would want used on us?  Speak words of encouragement.  Speak words of love.  Speak words of comfort.  Speak words of healing.  Speak words of caring. 

Few Words.......

Those who control their tongue will have a long life;
    opening your mouth can ruin everything.

Proverbs 13:3 

 

Ever notice how we are taught in Scripture to go against our natural instinct?  If someone mouths off to us, our instinct is to deliver a blistering response that will, hopefully, shut them up.  Then there's the gossip aspect...we get upset when people spread rumors about us or those we care about, but aren't we guilty of spreading rumors about others as well?

 

When my Grampa took me fishing,  he made it very clear to me that I needed to get all my wiggling, giggling, and yapping out of my system BEFORE we got in the boat.  So we would sit in the boat for hours and we would catch fish as long as I was quiet.  That trend broke when Grampa ran out of coffee and dozed off...his snoring sent rippling waves across the lake.

 

Think about out ancestors who had to hunt for sustenance.  Do you think the one who jabbered away got to bring home any meat?  Probably not.  In fact, he might have brought home a load of shot in his back pockets.

 

One of the things about my BOSS, the Sheriff, is that he is a man of few words.  One does not have to talk a lot to make a point.  In fact, I learned in Seminary that a sermon should be less than 17 minutes in length because you will lose the congregations attention if you preach longer.  I have worked in churches where the preacher prided himself on the ability to preach for 2-3 hours, yet wondered why people stopped coming to the services.

 

Guard your tongue!  Speak few words!  Make them meaningful! 

 

"Make your words impactful! The less you speak, the less you have to answer for later!" - Albert Einstein (credited)