Bible Ballistics: BBs #292 Do Words Really Matter???

 

“But the tongue can no man tame;

it is an unruly evil,

full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God,

even the Father;

and therewith curse we men,

which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth

blessing

and cursing.

My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth

at the same place sweet water

and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren,

bear olive berries?

either a vine,

figs?

so can no fountain

both yield salt water

and fresh.

13 Who is a wise man

and endued with knowledge among you?

let him shew out of a good conversation

his works

with meekness of wisdom.

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife

in your hearts,

glory not,

and lie not against the truth.

15 This wisdom descendeth not

from above,

but is earthly,

sensual,

devilish.

16 For where envying and strife is,

there is confusion

and every evil work.

17 But the wisdom that is from above

is first pure,

then peaceable,

gentle,

and easy to be intreated,

full of mercy

and good fruits,

without partiality,

and without hypocrisy.

18 And the fruit of righteousness

is sown in peace

of them

that make peace.” James 3:8-18

James tells us clearly that our words DO matter. Our words reveal and expose something important—what is in our heart. As verse 14 says, if we “have bitter envying and strife in your hearts”, we are not responding to the voice of God’s convicting Holy Spirit and dealing with our sin. We need to recognize that these “words” which lead to “actions” are not from the Father, the Son or the Holy Spirit, but are clearly “earthly, sensual, devilish”!!! And we are surrounded by worldly, sensual and devilish activities at every turn—in public, on TV, on the radio and in the political arena—yet James clearly tells us that this doesn’t make it right!!! We must keep our hearts and minds set on God and His Word!!! Jesus also dealt with this principle.

“O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 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.” Matthew 12:34-35

Jesus made it clear that what comes out of the mouth originates in the heart. While we are still living in a body of flesh, and sometimes the flesh can do stupid things, like speak a word in anger or emotion, if our mouth is continually full of that which is evil, we better check out our heart. James describes a fountain, which cannot flow with salt water and sweet/fresh water at the same time. What comes ‘out’ of the fountain will tell us what is “IN” the fountain. And what comes out of our mouth (continually) will reveal what is in our hearts. We simply must examine our heart, and ask God to reveal our true heart condition!

“Search me, O God,

and know my heart:

try me,

and know my thoughts:

24 And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.”    Psalm 139:23-24

Oh that we would learn to be transparent before our God. To lay our heart open before Him, that we might know how to walk before God and men. His Word is our compass!!!

“Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.” Psalm 119:133

And as Jesus taught us, we must understand that it is what is in the heart that affects our words and actions.

“And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 17 Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:16-20

The context here is the practice of ritual washings, but Jesus tells His disciples and the religious leaders that it’s the heart that God is searching—and the actions will eventually reveal what is really in the heart. Are we just talking the talk to impress others—or do we really belong to Jesus. What do our words and deeds reveal? Will our lives display the Holy, merciful and gracious love of our God to a lost and dying world? What words will we hear from our Lord when we face HIM (and everyone shall bow before Him!!!)?

“Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:” Isaiah 29:13

Or may we joyfully hear:

“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.” Matthew 25:21

The choice is yours! May we all seek His face and purify our hearts for His service and His glory to be revealed through us, so that the world may know HIM and come to trust and believe in Him, as John so beautifully penned:

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.” John 20:31