To Encourage You

Matthew 12:36-37 “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

I heard a good Will Rogers quote the other day: “Never miss a good chance to shut up.” Sounds like good advice, wouldn’t you say? Speaking for myself, I know I talk too much. And the more words I speak, the more likely the probability that I’ll say something I should not have. The Bible puts it this way in Proverbs 10:19: “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” Those are wise words from wise Solomon.

But beyond our propensity to say what we shouldn’t, the Bible further informs us in the passage above that we will one day give an account for every word we have spoken. This passage references “careless words.” Another translation puts it this way: “useless words,” i.e., words that should never have been said, for they had no value.

Obviously, the Lord would have us be careful with our words rather that careless. That’s the example Jesus set. He was like the prophet Samuel, in that His words never “fell to the ground” (1 Samuel 3:19). He always spoke the truth. When He spoke, the words He spoke were necessary. When people heard Him, they exclaimed, “No one ever spoke like this man!” (John 7:46). We are told that people “marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth” (Luke 4:22). What an example our Lord has set for us!

But how do we follow that example? Well, perhaps the best way is that we fill our hearts and mind with His words, rather than with our own words or the words of others. Of us it should be said that “The Word (of God) is near (us), in (our) mouth and in (our) heart” (Romans 10:8). Psalm 19 includes one of the most comprehensive statements about the treasures of the Word of God. It tells us that, “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” But then the writer ends this wonderful Psalm with the following prayer: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” And what a better way to make sure this occurs than to fill our thoughts with the Word of God that the psalmist had just been speaking about.

What a privilege we have to use our lips to tell others what God has said about things, rather than what we think. The wisest council that exists is found in the Bible’s pages, and God has given each one of us the opportunity to “meditate in the Word day and night” (Psalm 1:1), and thereby be equipped to speak and act with the wisdom that its words provide. May God help us to be people that are “always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks (us) for a reason for the hope that is in (us)” (1 Peter 3:15) rather than to be careless with words that do anything but that. But then this same passage tells us that when we do share God’s Word with others that we are to do so “with gentleness and respect.”

Wise words from an all-wise God, and such a wonderful preventative against issuing “careless words” from our mouth.