THE HIGH COST OF CARELESS TALK

          Does a fountain send out from the same opening both sweet and bitter water?

           Jesus was sent by The Father to redeem mankind.  His saving blood was the only thing that could truly atone for man’s sin.  To deny the voice of the Holy Spirit in the form of words spoken by Jesus and His apostles was to blaspheme.  To blaspheme (speak against) the Holy Spirit was to negate the only means provided by God for man’s salvation.  If one persists in refusing the revealed word of God there remains no hope of forgiveness (Mt.12:30-32).  This was the tactic utilized by leaders of the Jews in the first-century and it was an unpardonable sin (Mt.12:31) - - accusing God’s only begotten Son of being “of the devil".   This is the context for the words spoken by Jesus:  And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.  For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned (Mt.12:26-38).

            Jesus warned of careless words, variously rendered as useless, empty or vain.   In the broader context of our daily lives we also must watch our words.  Our tongues are powerful instruments and must be employed with great care.  As Solomon noted, death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov.18:21).  WHAT we say can make a difference for good or for bad.  Even more, HOW we say something can also acquit or condemn us.  Sarcasm is not the best instructor.  Criticisms, while sometimes hard to accept, will be more easily received when delivered in a kindly and gentle manner.   And beyond what we say and how we say it is an even more penetrating query, WHY do we say what we do?  Our spoken words reveal our heart.  Jesus was clear on this:  the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Mt.12:34).

            Careless words come in all shapes and sizes.  They may be like those spoken by the Pharisees, this man casts out demons by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons (Mt.12:24).  This was an outright denial of the deity of Jesus.  But empty and useless words flow forth in the currents of everyday intercourse:  lies (Col.3:9) ... gossip &.slander (Eph.4:31) … vulgarities & coarse jesting (Eph.5:4)… abusive speech (Col.3:8) … anger (Eph.4:26) ... swearing (Mt.5:33-37) … etc.  Seldom does a day go by that we cannot look back and review our words and thoughts with the acknowledgment that “We could have done a better job controlling our lips!"    

            Short of denying the deity of Christ, God grants forgiveness to all penitent ones who are imperfect with their verbiage.  James' confession represents us all - - we all stumble in many ways and none of us would dare to claim perfection (Js.3:2).  However, the difficulty of the assignment (taming our tongues) does not erase the need for our attention.  The fact that no man can tame the tongue (Js.3:8) does not give us permission to give up trying.  With vigilance and persistence, we must commit ourselves to praying as David did long ago:  Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing (Ps.141:3-4a). 

                                                                                   Terry Siverd / Cortland Church of Christ