Words
I honestly couldn’t come up with a better title for the topic I’d like to speak about this morning. It’s a simple topic but covers a lot of areas surrounding our lives and also leads into another subject I was asked to talk about.
Last Monday, as most of you know, was my last day of “Stay-Cation.” My short-lived time-off from work was coming to a close. Pamela was back to work and I was on my own… one more adventure!
I stopped in a local pub I used to frequent, a long time ago, nearly every weekend morning. It opened early and usually had a few old friends that I could sit and pass the morning hours away with before heading out for a nice long ride.
Monday was different. There was a few of the “residuals” in the bar that had clearly been there for quite some time. Eyes were glossy; words were slurred; and appearance seemed as though they had quite the night.
Then, the conversations began… golf, tennis, football, the President and any other thing they could think of so their mouths could get a little exercise and limber-up.
My problem was, everything or anything they were trying to describe was preceded with “F-ing” this or “F-ing” that which really began to weigh on my patience.
Not only was I offended by this foul language but, before departing (early), I spewed-out a few of my own just to announce my departure and give them a clear understanding as to why.
The bartender said, “Relax Woody, it’s just the beer talking.”
Matthew 15:10-11 – “Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.’”
Nope, wasn’t that at all.
What is it With Cursing?
In the Past
Cursing was typically associated with a lack of intelligence or an unclear understanding of what it was that someone was trying to describe.
It was said, back then, that the “curser” would often shoot-out words in replacement for words they didn’t know or weren’t in their vast vocabulary.
It was also said, of those that cursed, they often spoke more quickly than their brains could keep-up with.
In other words, people that cursed a lot were considered ignorant or unintelligent. This was a primary reason I always tried to stay away from this activity as I never wanted to seem unintelligent to anyone I was around (Daddy’s lesson).
Today
Unfortunately, in today’s society, cursing is considered a form of emphasizing one’s opinion or strong, emotional dedication in what they may believe.
In other words, today, it’s considered “okay” to curse as it simply serves as a means of “venting” or strongly portraying their fervent opinions on any given topic.
Take a look at the movies! Listen to a radio talk-show! It seems today’s society has openly and eagerly accepted cursing as a part of “this world” and welcomed it with open arms!
I, for one, strongly disagree with this type of behavior and find it completely unnecessary as I feel one’s opinions or views on any specific topic can easily be expressed in a far better, and less vulgar, manner.
In other words, “I’m F-ing p-ed off!” could easily be replaced with, “I’m really angry!” Same thing, right?
Let’s ask our Bible!
Curb Your Tongue
What type of life are we leading when we can’t even take charge of our tongues? We’re certainly not living the Loving life God has planned for us when we don’t learn to control our words.
1 Peter 3:10 – “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.”
God wants the “good life” for us. He wants us to enjoy all that He has given us and have “good days.” Therefore, given the scripture I just read, I don’t think He would be too thrilled with giving all of this to us if we don’t “keep our tongue from evil!”
We also need to remember; it doesn’t do others one bit of good when we lower ourselves to the level where we can’t keep our words Godly.
Ephesians 4:29 – “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
In other words, we certainly wouldn’t be letting our light shine before the world!
Do you think, by cursing, you help to build someone up? I don’t believe so. We’re supposed to be the people that lift-up people’s spirits.
Firstly, you’re not speaking in Godly ways so how can the compassion and glory of God come out from you if you’re speaking with “unwholesome” words?
Useless Talk/Gossip
When we’re quick to talk about others, especially when they’re not around to defend whatever it is you have to say, we’re once again not controlling our tongues.
Our ears are not trash cans! I, for one, don’t want to hear your own dirt much less do I want to hear about others.
From Proverbs, the Knowledge of King Solomon, son of David…
Proverbs 11:13 – “A gossip betrays a confidence,
but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.”
Proverbs 16:28 – “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.”
Words Can Hurt – Again, from Solomon…
Proverbs 25:18 – “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is one who gives false testimony against a neighbor.”
Likewise, Words Can Heal
Proverbs 18:4 (New Living Translation) – “A person’s words can be life-giving water; words of true wisdom are as refreshing as a bubbling brook.”
Enough said… let’s stay away from the gossip!
Show Respect
God Commands It
A good starting point is to respect others because God said to. For example, we read in the Bible that husbands and wives are to respect their spouse. Yep, it all starts in the home.
Ephesians 5:33 – “However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.”
The same principle applies to other relationships (friends, co-workers etc). We should respect others as we would have them show respect to us.
Matthew 7:12 – “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”
Again, we see here, another common, widely taught lesson in life. Do you recognize it? (Do unto others…)
Also, why would you disrespect someone when you know, for certain, they will one day show you the same disrespect?
Was I Right?
So, after all the scripture I just read from the Bible, was I justified in my anger last Monday? Did I do as God would have wanted me to do? Had I forgotten the lesson from Jesus?
Luke 6:37-38 – “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”
I believe I did not follow some of these very simple rules we should follow when we listen to others.
Acknowledge Weaknesses
Colossians 3:13 – “Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.”
We are ALL imperfect. Be careful not to let their failures erode your respect for their good qualities.
Look for the Good/Potential
You can find something to respect in anybody if you look hard enough. What might be the one thing they’re good at but cannot display it in the current environment?
Children of God – God Loves Them Too
1 John 4:8-10 – “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
That’s pretty important to remember, don’t you think? We are ALL children of God; Brothers and Sisters in Christ and filled with The Holy Spirit.
Showing Respect
So how can we show more respect? If you stop and think about it, if we keep ourselves Godly; remember the words of Christ… it’s really quite simple to easily show respect for others.
James 1:19 – “My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”
How many times have we talked about that one? Listen intently and always think twice before you speak!
Don’t hold that grudge! How many times do we get angry with someone and, days later, we’re still not speaking to them; not listening to them; or simply avoiding them completely?
Ephesians 4:26 – “In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”
My Mother taught me this as a young child. I was always told to: “Go ahead and display the fact that you’re angry but, before you close your eyes at night, forget the anger and move on to the next day!”
Not to Judge
And this, we should remember well…
Matthew 7:1-2 – “Stop judging, so that you won’t be judged, 2 because the way that you judge others will be the way that you will be judged, and you will be evaluated by the standard with which you evaluate others.”
In Conclusion
- Curb Your Tongue – Do not let harsh words spew from your mouth. You may say or do something you will forever regret.
- Avoid the Gossip – Refrain from saying negative things about others and don’t partake in conversations where others are being libeled – a false statement that is damaging to a person’s reputation.
- Words can be Hurtful or Helpful – Choose your words carefully, Keep the harshness out of your conversation. Remember, you are a child of the most-high God!
- Show Respect – Always be quick to listen and slow to speak… even slower to anger.
- Acknowledge Weaknesses – Remember, nobody’s perfect. We are all sinners and we all have our own faults. Christ, was the only perfect being in this world!
- Look for the Good – Always remember… there is something you may not know; may not understand… something deep within another person that is truly good about them!
- God Loves them Too! – Despite their behavior, you know God Loves them and, as children of God, they too are your Brethren… Love them as Jesus taught us to do!
Go with God; be good to one another; always be humble; always stay kind… God Bless (Amen)!