Proverbs 8:6, Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
1.Say trustworthy things: Today man has a lot of topics to talk and discuss about. There is eloquence and expertise in language. Yet no one pays much attention that what they say is trustworthy or lacks trust. Man has now become faster to speak and slower in listening. Trustworthy or untrustworthy, the words from our mouth do not come in one day. What we make a habit from childhood is what becomes a habit in adult life as well.
James 3:2-12, 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Why are the children of God today talking things which are unsuitable and untrustworthy like a sewer line that carries only filth and waste of the world. Yahweh had instructed Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the people that if they do not turn from their evil ways He would destroy the city into a rumble. Jonah though at first did not follow order, later he went to Nineveh and told the people that if they didn’t repent in the next 40 days their city would be no more. His words made a huge impact and the people of Nineveh from the king to animals went into fasting and repentance. Just as the Lord called Jonah by his name, He is calling each one of us by our names.
In today’s times the words that need our attention and time are those that tell us about our sins and how to repent from them. Listen carefully and follow the words.
Romans 1:16, 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
We cannot become like St. Paul neither can we bring a change of heart in one lakh people. But we are capable of proclaiming the words of our Lord that HE is the way, the truth and the life.
2.Open your mouth to speak only what is right: In today’s consumerist time, the right word/talk is a joke. Today even children are capable of twisting the truth to suit their interest. Each person should pause and think that from morning till we go to bed how many times do we open our mouths to say the right thing. We can observe five types of tongues around us:
- The tongues that likes to lie
- The tongue that like to please people/praise
- The tongue that speaks rumours
- The tongue that speaks only evil/criticise others
- The tongue that boast of himself/herself
Proverbs 21:23, 23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.
A man’s heart is deeper than an ocean. Be it in a family, among friends or at workplace, he/she is well talented to be able to hide hate, envy, jealousy and dislike for others and all the while keep on a smiling face speaking good to others. Must say that this too children are learning from young ages from their own homes.
Proverbs 15:2, 2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
One of the characteristics of Job that the Lord praises before Satan is that he was righteous and always said and did what is right.
Proverbs 26:20, 20 Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
Some people derive evil pleasure by causing a storm by their gossip and rumours. Without verifying what they hear is right or wrong people too spread them like a deadly virus. But what these people fail to realise is the harm that their words cause. Also if someone tries to correct them he/she becomes their enemy.
Proverbs 23:16, 16 my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.
Proverbs 10:13, 13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
Proverbs 26:28, 28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.
If you are hit with a rod/ stick the body bears bruises which get healed over a period of time. Yet when hit by words it bruises the soul and heart which cannot be healed.
Psalms 39:1, 1 I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked.”
Let us also be able to pray like David.
Psalms 141:3, Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips.
Dear children of God, a honeybee is a very small insect which can cause immense pain if stung. Yet it produces the sweetest honey. If you transfer the contents of one vessel into another what comes out is what was inside the vessel.
Sirach 5:14-15, 14 Don’t get a reputation for being a gossip, and don’t tell tales that will hurt people. Just as robbers will suffer disgrace, so liars will suffer severe condemnation. 15 Do nothing destructive, whether it seems insignificant or not,..
Children of God, now when you open your mouth to speak, pause and think about what it is that you will be putting out into the world.
Ecclesiastes 7:29, 29 This only have I found:
God created mankind upright,
but they have gone in search of many schemes.
Jehovah Roi 