August 3, 2013
Words - Like - Wind
Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
James 3:5-10
“I lay it down as fact that if all men knew what others say of them, there would not be four friends in the world.”
- Blaise Pascal
Words like wind can travel far, go quickly and sometimes do a great deal of damage.
I often wonder if we ever, for a day, could hear everything that those around us think or say about us; we would ever speak to each other again. But you know God can and does and every time we think or speak something evil or of an untruth about someone else we are speaking about an individual that God created and loves dearly. Just like; every time we do a good deed for someone, it is the same as doing it for the Lord: every time we gossip or speak evil of some one, it is the same as gossiping about or speaking evil of the Lord. Wow, that certainly put’s it in a different perspective doesn’t it? Who among us would willfully or knowingly speak evil of the Lord? Probably not one!
Bertrand Russell once wrote: “No one gossips about other people’s secret virtues.” And how true this is of us: we seldom spend vast amounts of time talking to others about all the good qualities and admirable virtues that our pastor’s or brothers and sisters in the faith posses: but boy do we have a good time feasting on a smorgasbord of their faults and failings: usually over Sunday lunch. Just remember when we talk about one of God’s children it is the same as if we are talking about Him.
I wonder if the old idea of not saying anything, unless we can find something good to say might not be a bad approach, unless we are willing to say whatever it is we feel must be said, directly to the face of the person we are saying it about.
It might be easier to have a better witness and more effective ministry in our life if we would learn to communicate better to each other not at or about each other. I’m just sayin’!
Words don’t have to be damaging: they can also be like the wind in the aspect that just like a soft gentle breeze, they can be refreshing and bring comfort.
The affect that our words have on others is mostly up to us. What affect do your words have on those around you?
Prayer:
Father, may I chose my words with care and may I never say anything about anyone that I would not say to them.
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