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Most of us are so good at
criticizing others that we do not pay any attention to it. Think about your
day today. How many times did you criticize someone without thinking? What
about the person who cut you off in traffic? How about that family member that
you talked to on the telephone? Think about your coworkers and especially your
supervisors. What little comments slipped into your mind? More importantly,
what snide remarks slid off your tongue?
You may think that these
little sarcastic remarks are not important. God thinks they are very important
though. The Bible tells us that, Death
and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the
fruit thereof.[1] The words we
speak have power to them. The psalmist describes the words of the wicked as a
“sword” and their biter words as “arrows.”
Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of
the workers of iniquity: Who whet
their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even
bitter words: That they may shoot
in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.[2]
The psalmist further states
that the wicked plot and scheme against others, but that they themselves will
suffer from their own tongue and be wounded by an arrow – the arrow of God.
They encourage themselves in an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward thought of every one of them, and the heart, is deep. But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the Lord, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory. [3]
Furthermore, Scripture also
tells us that, A man that beareth false
witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.[4]
We would all do well to consider our words as arrows – arrows that
can deeply pierce into the heart of another person and wound them deeply,
often fatally.
How many times has someone
said something that hurt you deeply? We all have experienced terrible pain
from the words of another that have struck deeply into our heart. Yet we still
do not comprehend the magnitude of the words that fall so casually from our
lips. This is the reason why the Bible says,
Seest thou a man that is hasty in
his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.[5]
Scripture also tells us that,
He
that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an
excellent spirit.[6] The man that speaks
too quickly is worse than a fool but the man who speaks sparingly is wise. If
we understand that words have power though, we understand why the Bible
teaches this. It is like picking up a weapon and hurling it at someone without
thinking of the consequences. When we spew out malicious words without
thought, then we are casually hurling weapons at others - whether we
comprehend it or not.
Most of understand that God’s word is powerful. The Bible tells us that,
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any
twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and
of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of
the heart.[7]
We also understand that God
spoke creation into existence.[8] Yet we fail to
understand that our words possess power too. Once we send them forth, we
cannot gather them back to our lips. They are gone forever.
Think for a moment what
happens when we speak. Our mouth, tongue and vocal cords create words with
sound. The sound is dispersed in waves that others hear as sounds, or words.
Some scientists believe that every sound that has ever been made still exists
somewhere in the universe. It has traveled past our limited world and
continues throughout the universe.
This does not seem impossible
when you consider that radio signals can be picked up in space. They continue
to travel outside of the Earth’s environment and out into the expansiveness
of the universe. Our words are out there also -- bouncing around with radio
broadcasts and all the other sounds.
How would you feel, however,
if some of those words bounced back to you? What if the words did not travel
away from you but, rather, traveled toward you? Would you still say them?
Would you continue to criticize others?
Well, God does hear our words
- even those we would rather forget that we had spoken. God notices all the
little comments that we make to ourselves and others. He listens closely when
we mumble under our breath or when we whisper
into the ears of another person. Jesus told His disciples,
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good
things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shal l 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.[9]
What will your words say to you - justification or
condemnation? The very words that you used to condemn others will one day
condemn you. Jesus said that “every idle word that men shall speak, they
shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” He said “idle word.”
That includes all the snide comments that you made. It also means all the
gossip that you spread. It includes your criticism and nitpicking too. All of
it will one day return back to you.
As the Scripture says,
Pride
goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.[10] The pride
that you felt as you condemned others will become bile in your mouth as it
returns to you. The smugness that you felt when criticizing others will turn
to horror as you realize the terrible pain that you inflicted upon others. The
arrow that you shot at others will eventually pierce your own soul.
Does this make you hesitant to criticize others? Will you
consider your words before you say them now? If so, then your life will be
much better. You will also find that you will have less pain and bitterness in
your life.
If for no other reason than self-protection, each of us should consider our words well before we speak. In doing so, we may prevent much pain to ourselves, as well as pain to others.
[1] Proverbs 18:21 [2]Psalms 64:2-4 [3]Psalms 64:5-10 [4]Proverbs 25:18 [5]Proverbs 29:20 [6]Proverbs 17:27 [7]Hebrews 4:12 [8]You can read the story of Creation in Genesis Chapter One. [9]Matthew 12:25-37
[10]Proverbs
16:18 © Copyright 2003 by Synthia Robinson-Pack. All rights reserved. |
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