“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
So live that you wouldn’t be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip. -Will Rogers.
Yiddish folklore offers a telling tale about gossip-makers. One such man had told so many malicious untruths about the local rabbi that, overcome by remorse, he begged the rabbi to forgive him. “And, Rabbi, tell me how I can make amends.” The rabbi sighed, “Take two pillows, go to the public square and there cut the pillows open. Wave them in the air. Then come back.” The rumormonger quickly went home, got two pillows and a knife, hastened to the square, cut the pillows open, waved them in the air and hastened back to the rabbi’s chambers. “I did just what you said, Rabbi!” “Good.” The rabbi smiled. “Now, to realize how much harm is done by gossip, go back to the square…” “And?” “And collect all your feathers.”
Hurtful speech of any kind cannot be undone once it is spoken. As Christians, we should never be known as someone who uses our tongue to hurt others. Our reputation shouldn’t be one that tells of gossip, malicious speech, or idle stories. God desires our speech to be pure, holy, and uplifting.
Our verse today gives us the pattern for the things we should talk about. We are to honor the Lord in everything we do or say! Many times we speak before we think about what we are going to say. It is at those times that we regret what we have said. Before we speak, we must think about what we are going to say and consider if it will honor the Lord.
I once saw this acrostic for how we can think on our speech before we say it:
T-Is it true?
H-Is it helpful?
I-Is it inspiring?
N-Is it necessary?
K-Is it kind?
I wonder what would happen if we all ran our speech through the filter of THINK. We would be less condescending, hurtful, and careless with our words, and more uplifting and encouraging in our speech.
Time and again in His Word, God warns against the power of the tongue. The tongue is a mighty tool in our body that can be used for good or bad. Why not take advantage of God’s gift of speech and honor Him with it?
How are you using your speech? Do you think before you speak? Ask God to help your words honor Him. Determine to be a person that encourages those around you with your speech. Remember to THINK before you say anything that could be harmful or unkind today.(By Paul Chappell)
