Let's Stop Talking

Could any one of us count or even make a list of all the ways that we love and adorn God our Father?...I don't believe we could do either. In our attempts to do so, I believe each of our lists though would be similar in some ways, yet quite different in others. In very, very personal ways, certain things seem to be first and foremost in our individual hearts and minds. I believe it is with these that God has made some of His deepest impacts and impressions into our lives. May I share one of those today?

I simply have loved the way that God has developed an idea, thought, or impression that I may have received from the study of His Word. God, with His Spirit, has awed and humbled me 'many a time' over the years in this very way. Among the passages of Scripture that will never, ever mean the same to me are: Romans 8:14, Romans 12:13, Philippians 2:11&12, James 1:22, and James 1:26&27. And this list could go on. But the latest might just be the greatest!

Jesus in Matthew 12:36&37 says, "...that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned."

I cannot remember why I was looking at this text, but the word in this passage that I was most curious about was 'careless'. What does that word mean? I thought of what I had been taught as to the meaning of this Scripture. I suppose it started very early in my church life with the verse from the Sunday school song...

Oh, be careful little mouth what you say,
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say,
For the Father up above,
Is looking down in love,
Oh, be careful little mouth what you say.

Remember?

So, this started very early in life; be very careful as to what you say...Lee, do not say dirty words...Lee, do not say hurtful words...Lee, do not say angry words...Lee, do not say "shut up"...Lee, say "yes ma'am" and "yes sir"...Lee, say...(well, you get the picture, because you were brought-up the same way).

And even though all of that is true and right, I still wondered, "Is that all Jesus meant by 'careless' words"??? I did not believe that was His entire point!

Another word that we sometimes see as a translation in this passage is the word 'idle'. Interestingly, this is the same Greek word that is used to describe the men standing in the marketplace in the parable of laborers in the vineyard in Matthew 20:3. These men were found not working in the marketplace, then hired to go and work in the vineyard. The initial thought that God and His Spirit had been working on for over a year was this: Could the 'careless' or 'idle' words we speak be those words that we proclaim boldly, but they are not followed with any kind of deed or action? In other words, those words remain 'idle'.

Far-fetched? Way out in leftfield? Lee, you're stretching it! Well, let me share what the Spirit has been revealing over the last 12 months...consider:

• Matthew 7:28&29 - I believe the reason why the audience saw Jesus as one having authority in His speaking was because they saw Him as One who was practicing what He was preaching;



• James 1:22-27 - After James encourages his readers to be doers of the word and not merely hearers, he proclaims that a man's religion which consists of an unbridled tongue is worthless; for the man is deceived in his heart. Pure religion in the sight of God is caring for others;

• John 21:25 - One of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. The world would not contain the books that could be written about what Jesus did, not about what He said;

• I John 3:18 - John tells us to love in deed and in truth, not simply with words and with our tongue;

...and this teaching continues on and on throughout the New Testament.

Even IBM has begun to understand this principle. We have all seen their STOP TALKING/START DOING commericials.

So Lee, what has been the practical application of this in your life? First and foremost, a lot less talk(just ask my family and friends). I have said plenty in the past. My family and friends know where I stand. I desire that not one of those words become an 'idle' word. Secondly, each new day I look more intently for the opportunities that God gives me to simply live-out what I have 'proclaimed' in the past. Lee, does your life show that you really meant that? And finally, the words of Francis of Asisi seem very appropriate in closing,

"Everywhere you go preach the Word, and when necessary use words"

This, my friends, is a life changer!