Watch what you say!

Pastor Pat O'Rourke

There is something that sets human beings apart from the rest of creation. It’s the ability to speak and communicate. It is a tremendous gift yet carries with it a great responsibility. Words are important, far more important than most folks realize. Consider with me some of Jesus’ teachings concerning words and what they do: Matthew 12:36 says, “Every idle (non-fruitful and non-productive) word that men should speak, they shall give an account for it - in the day of judgment.” The gift of speech is God-given for creative, productive uses. Yet so many people use their words to tear down others, to hurt or even to destroy. Probably every one of us carries in our heart the memory of someone’s harsh, hurtful words. A destructive, critical word can pierce like an arrow into the heart of a child doing real damage. The purpose of words is to uplift, never to destroy. According to this scripture from the Bible our words spoken throughout a lifetime are carefully recorded and will be used for us or against us. In Matthew 12:37, Jesus goes on to say, “For by your words you will be justified, by your words you shall be condemned.” Many people seek to condemn others with their words, criticism, slander, gossip, etc. but the Bible says when we indulge in such practices we actively are condemning ourselves! Sometimes I am shocked when I hear strong judgmental words coming out of the mouth of a human being. There is no one on the face of the earth who possesses the ability to actually judge another person. Yet people do it all the time. Only Almighty God has the ability to judge a man or a woman and that is solely because God has the ability to look into people’s hearts. All we, as humans, have is the ability to look on the outside of a person. We do not know what is taking place in peoples’ hearts so let’s leave the judging to God. By the way, let me tell you what happens to you when you strongly judge another person and than talk about your judgments. When you do that, when you allow a judgment to some out of your mouth, you literally destroy your own discernment, or your ability to hear from God. If there was ever a day we need to hear God’s voice it is today. Yet so many have cut off God’s speaking into their lives by making judgments. The next scripture I want to quote is recorded by Jesus’ half-brother, James. James 3:2 - “If any person makes no mistakes in what they are saying, they are a mature person and able to control their whole body.” James 3:3 - “We put bits in the horse’s mouths that they may obey us, and we turn them about.” James 3:4 - “Also, the ships which are so huge and are driven by the winds, are turned by a small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.” James 3:5 - “Even so the tongue is so small yet so boastful.” Here, James compares the tongue to the bit in the horse’s mouth and the rudder of a ship, both very tiny in comparison to what they control. A tiny bit controls a huge horse. A tiny rudder controls a great ship. And so is the tongue! Very small in comparison to the rest of the person. Yet the tongue controls the direction of the life. You see it all around you. Some people speak confusion, poverty and luck, and that is the direction they go. Other people speak clarity - abundance and blessing - and that is where they tread in life. The tongue controls the direction. So what are you speaking? Are you helping to make people’s lives easier with your words or are you pulling them down and speaking destruction? Always remember, watch your words!