25/06/08

Mind your words

Therefore beware of murmuring, which is unprofitable; and refrain your tongue from backbiting: for there is no word so secret, that shall go for nought: and the mouth that belieth slayeth the soul. - Wisdom 1:11 [KJV - Apocrypha]

Our tongue can help build us in this world or bring us to ruin. In the spiritual realm this principle too holds good. There are many places in the Bible which warn us about what we speak.

If you read in Revelation 20:11-12 it is written 'And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.' In Revelations the Bible talks about books not book which will be opened during the Judgment Day. And in Matthew 12: 36-37 Jesus clearly instructs 'But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.' Every word that we say gets registered in two books. Like in computers when we send emails the host server and the recipient server both add details of the email into their logs. If the email is contested the logs are compared and if the entry is found matching, it is taken as evidence. There are references similar of this in the Bible.

Jeremiah 17:1 - The sin of Judah is written with a pen of iron, and with the point of a diamond: it is graven upon the table of their heart, and upon the horns of your altars;

On the Judgment day we all will be held accountable for our every word. If they edify we get rewarded, but if they harm anybody even if it is our own selves, we will have to pay the price. Speaking does not only mean by mouth only but also by any means of communication that takes our words to others.

Let wisdom prevail in us when we speak, let our 'Yes' be 'Yes' and our 'No' be 'No', anything else if it does not edify should be refrained from being spoken.


[ Prayer Starter ]
Lord God, help me take control of my tongue. Forgive me for those words I have spoken out of anger or ignorance which has harmed others. Help me with words that build others in you and help console the broken hearted. I ask this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scripture ]
Proverbs 10:31
31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out.

Proverbs 12:17-19
17 He that speaketh truth sheweth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.
18 There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.
19 The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

Proverbs 15:1-2
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

Proverbs 17:20
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.

Proverbs 18:21
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 21:23
23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

The Word of God was given free to us, therefore we should also share it freely with others. (All rights are with God)