“…The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”
We enjoy examining biblical complexities but are often hesitant to implement simple truths that are inconvenient. This passage is clear, yet in our friendships, social media, politics, and even church, we simply ignore it.
You cannot “cherry pick” which biblical mandates you follow. You can twist interpretations, argue translations, and debate hermeneutics - but when you’re finished, this verse will still say exactly what it said before – “If you desire love and life... watch your mouth.”
Even in church, we have become adept at softly brutalizing others with our speech. Acid words flow from our smiling lips as we are condescending about a brother… not that you don’t love him of course, but he really struggles with (insert gossip here). It is especially satisfying if they differ with us politically. This has become standard operating procedure… even tolerated from the pulpit… So, we dismiss it and move on, but scripture does not.
This verse contains a crystal clear “If/Then” statement. IF you desire love and life THEN watch what you say… The inverse is clear also - continue vomiting evil from your lips and see what happens.
Words are our spiritual thermometer…they come from our heart and reveal what is inside it. If I find ways to insert selfish, demeaning comments about others, then I have a heart problem. If I can’t speak to, or about people who are not like me, without personally attacking and degrading them – then how is my heart any different than those who don’t know Christ?
By the way if you’re reading this and thinking about someone who really needs to hear it - you missed the point. Look in the mirror and read it again. Then make changes in your heart so that your words will be “like honey - sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” (Proverbs16:24)
A heart that produces polluted speech has a lethal problem. And if we camped out on this verse every Tuesday morning for the rest of the year it would not be overstating its importance.
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness… My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” – James
Excellent message Boyd!
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