“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29
It was a big billboard that caught my attention nearly a half mile away. It said: TALK IS CHEAP: SEE OUR RESULTS. What a message! Anyone can say most anything about their product or service, but it is results that speak the loudest.
The Bible says that any creature, but the tongue of man, can be controlled. Talking can get us into a lot of trouble. Words can create deep wounds. People want to know how we live our life before they hear what we have to say about it.
First of all the Bible tells us to listen more than we talk. Rearrange the word letters of the word LISTEN and you can make it SILENT. People won’t care what you know until they know how much you care.
There are dozens of scripture verses on talking and the tongue, but over all they fall into four categories:
DISCERNMENT – We need to think through what we are going to say before we say it. Knowing what to say and when to say it can make all the difference.
JUDGEMENT – Knowing what not to say can be of equal importance. Am I going too far? Have I introduced a topic to the conversation that came from my background instead of from the other person?
WISDOM – Is this the best course of action or is this foolish? Does the party understand my motive? God holds me accountable for what comes out of my mouth.
LISTEN – Don’t be afraid of silence, if you speak too soon, you may stop the party from understanding or saying something really helpful. Don’t talk just to fill space or to hear your own voice. Silence may seem painful, but it can be a powerful tool for the Gospel. The tongue is the only blunt instrument that grows sharper with constant use.
The best witness for the Gospel comes not from what we say, but how we live. Your life may be the only Gospel some people ever read.
What results do people see in your life? If they don’t see you living a Christian life, then nothing you can say will make much of a difference. Remember to live and reflect on Monday that which you say on Sunday.
By John Grant
Used by Permission
John Grant is a former Florida State Senator and is a practicing attorney.
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