Christian Speech

by L.A. Hickling, Cromer, U.K. | Category: General | Nov 1984

In one of the Psalms David wrote, "I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth" (39:1). He realized the potential of the words he spoke. Centuries later James wrote, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself'

(1:26).

We are thankful that we have the ability to communicate with one another by talking. We engage in the activity so often that perhaps we don't always think of the power of the spoken word. Some men have swayed multitudes for good or ill by the power of their oratory. We may not aspire to that, but we do continually speak to the people around us and our words do have some impact.

In the Bible the tongue is compared to fire. Now fire can be very beneficial. What more delightful on a cold winter's night than to seek the cheerful comfort of a warm fireside. And words spoken can be like that. "How good is a timely word," says the proverb. But fire can also be dangerous and destructive. A spark kindles the dry brush in the forest, the breeze fans the flame and the whole beautiful and useful forest is destroyed. Or a carelessly dropped match sets the whole house ablaze and human lives may be at risk. Words can be like that too. Spoken at first unthinkingly and then fanned into flame as they go they may do untold damage to much that is beautiful and useful and may destroy human lives. How much misery can be traced back to the speaking of an unkind word!

Let us think now of the beneficial effects of spoken words. The Lord Jesus said, "The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart" (Mat. 15:18). What is inside shows in our speech and we who have known the liberating power of the Lord Jesus within should be guided in our speech by the Holy Spirit. If we are, then our speech will be as Ephesians 4:29 says, "only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." So it will have the warming effect of the welcome fire.

The apostle Paul asked the people in the church at Ephesus to pray for him so that whenever he opened his mouth, words would be given to him so that he would fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel. Surely that is a task in which our tongues may be profitably employed whether publicly or privately

telling others the great message of the gospel; the message which has brought us salvation and satisfaction.

Then there is the need to encourage one another. Someone we know may have become depressed, perhaps even turning back from God's way for them. They need stirring up, just as you would stir up the smouldering fire. And a suitable encouraging word - a word from God - may do that. Do it day by day says the writer of the Hebrews.

Some need words of comfort. Perhaps they have experienced bereavement, or they are to face an operation, or they may have been thrown out of employment. We need to learn how to sustain with words these weary ones. We can do it as we think of the comfort we have received in our times of affliction and we can pass it on, comforting "those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God" (2 Cor. 1:4).

(Scriptural quotations are from the N.J. V.)

L.A. Hickling, Cromer, U.K. | Nov 1984
General