There have been two different occasions this week when my wife and I have had to remind each other to watch what we say. In each occasion, we were asking each other for wisdom on how to respond to a particular situation, and we repeated the same phrase in response to one another:
“Don’t say anything you will have to apologize for later.”
I think there’s wisdom in that. And surely that’s a pretty good reason on its own to be careful with your words. It’s because there is no edit button on our conversations. Words are the bell that can’t be unrung. You can try and walk things back, you can try and explain yourself, you can even try to justify the words you said, but in the end, it’s just there. That comment. That remark. That tone. It’s there. Always. And you don’t want to be embarrassed later by what you said in the moment.
But there are other reasons beyond avoiding embarrassment to watch what we say. Deeper reasons. And perhaps even more important ones. Here are three of them:
1. Because our words reflect our hearts.
A friend recently told me that what’s down in the well comes up in the bucket. When we find ourselves spouting off in anger or gossip or slander it’s not because we were just caught up in the moment; it’s because that’s what’s down in our hearts. We are only showing off what’s been down in there the whole time:
“How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil” (Matthew 12:34-35).
2. Because our words are more powerful than we realize.
The second reason we should be careful with our words is because rarely do we grasp just how much power they have:
“No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29).
Our words are like water. Water is the stuff of life, but water is also incredibly destructive. Just like water, our words are incredibly powerful to either destroy, or to build up, especially to those we claim to love. When we are dealing with something that powerful, we would be very wise to be careful.
3. Because our words authenticate our faith.
The Book of James is one of the most direct books in the entire Bible. In a mushy kind of world where there are increasingly blurred lines on everything, it’s refreshing to find a text of such absolutes. Refreshing, if not at least a little disconcerting:
Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless (James 1:26).
What validates the reality of our faith? Of our religion? According to James, it’s whether or not we have a tight rein on our words. It’s whether we are in control or not of what we say. So if we find ourselves constantly unable to hold back or direct our words, then we indeed have something to fear.
So watch what you say today, friends. Be careful with your words. Be careful with your words because of what they mean about you, your faith, and what they can do to others.
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