“From the fruit
of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands
brings them reward.” (Proverbs 12:14 NIV)
Words, words, words!
Talk, talk, talk! Should I mention gossip? Enough said.
How easy it is to
become embroiled in circumstances with unwise words. Consider the times you
have spoken too quickly and became entangled in a web of trouble. Of course,
you may have escaped such entanglement simply by having thought before you
spoke and were later thankful that you did.
In the New
Testament, James wrote, ” We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never
at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in
check” (3:2 NIV). Then, “the tongue is a small part of the body, but
it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small
spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is
itself set on fire by hell” (3:5-6 NIV).
Testament, James wrote, ” We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never
at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in
check” (3:2 NIV). Then, “the tongue is a small part of the body, but
it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small
spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is
itself set on fire by hell” (3:5-6 NIV).
In our society, many
people have paid dearly for their unwise mouth. We’ve heard all the clichés.
Open mouth insert foot. Closed lips sink no ships. Think before you speak.
Listen more than you talk. What might be the results IF we would simply listen
and pay attention to these snippets of truth.
people have paid dearly for their unwise mouth. We’ve heard all the clichés.
Open mouth insert foot. Closed lips sink no ships. Think before you speak.
Listen more than you talk. What might be the results IF we would simply listen
and pay attention to these snippets of truth.
Yet, there is also a
bright side to this issue. We certainly are not going to be silent for the rest
of our lives. So, we have the general promise from the Wise Teacher that our
words can bless us with personal satisfaction. We gain soul comfort and inward
pleasure that truly satisfies when “the fruit of their lips” is good
and wise words. When we encourage and otherwise speak words that bless and
edify others, we discover that our reward is unexplainable to others (John 4:32).
bright side to this issue. We certainly are not going to be silent for the rest
of our lives. So, we have the general promise from the Wise Teacher that our
words can bless us with personal satisfaction. We gain soul comfort and inward
pleasure that truly satisfies when “the fruit of their lips” is good
and wise words. When we encourage and otherwise speak words that bless and
edify others, we discover that our reward is unexplainable to others (John 4:32).
And we have the
promises of Scripture: “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7);
“God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done’ ”
(Romans 2:6 NIV). The work of their hands
brings them reward.
promises of Scripture: “A man reaps what he sows” (Galatians 6:7);
“God ‘will repay each person according to what they have done’ ”
(Romans 2:6 NIV). The work of their hands
brings them reward.
Dear Father, thank
you for your grace and mercy. Grant that we may speak good things and work for
your glory. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
you for your grace and mercy. Grant that we may speak good things and work for
your glory. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be strong and
courageous today in your work and talk,
courageous today in your work and talk,