Articles
Of Whom, What, and How Much
Of Whom, What, and How Much
Hardly have words left your mouth you wished you could have bitten your tongue and never said them. Who has not had an experience like that? Do you remember what a terrible taste it is to have “your foot in your mouth”? We do not have to be reminded of the embarrassment which followed, the hurt we inflicted, or the disgust we felt because we failed to be careful with words. When those words leave our lips, they cannot be recovered. Their influence is felt for a while and longer than we image.
The wise man made several piercing statements about words. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin” (Proverbs 10:19). “He that keepth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction” (Proverbs 13:3). “He that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief” (Proverbs 17:20). “A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul” (Proverbs 18:7). In spite of all the warnings and the personal “bad experiences”, we go on saying things we ought not say.
James 3:1-10 addresses the need to watch out for your words. Using incorrect language in writing or not able to pronounce words is a sad commentary on the literacy of society. However, the worst usage of words are those which fall short of the standard God expects. Crude, profane, obscene, and harsh words violate God’s standards for what is needed to develop good relationships with others. When out of the mouth come forth blessings and cursings, God is very clear, “these things ought not so to be” (James 3:10).
Most problems are easier to prevent than cure. Nowhere is that more applicable than to those problems we bring on ourselves with careless words. Too often the theory, “Think twice before you speak” turns into “Speak twice before you think”.
If your lips would keep from slips
Of five things have a care:
To whom you speak, of whom you speak,
And how, and when, and where.
- Unknown
