LET MY WORDS BE FEW

Getting involved in an argument that is none of your business is like going down the street and grabbing a dog by the ears. Someone who tricks someone else and then claims that he was only joking is like a crazy person playing with a deadly weapon. Without wood, a fire goes out; without gossip, quarreling stops. Charcoal keeps the embers glowing, wood keeps the fire burning, and troublemakers keep arguments alive. Gossip is so tasty! How we love to swallow it! Insincere talk that hides what you are really thinking is like a fine glaze on a cheap clay pot. A hypocrite hides hate behind flattering words. They may sound fine, but don't believe him, because his heart is filled to the brim with hate. He may disguise his hatred, but everyone will see the evil things he does. People who set traps for others get caught themselves. People who start landslides get crushed. You have to hate someone to want to hurt him with lies. Insincere talk brings nothing but ruin. Proverbs 26:17-28

I guess my prayer today is “LORD, let my words be few”….That reminds me of a song (yeah, I know, everything does).

(LET MY WORDS BE FEW, by Philips Craig & Dean)
You are God in heaven
And here am I on earth
So I'll let my words be fewJesus,
I am so in love with You
And I'll stand in awe of You, Jesus
Yes, I'll stand in awe of You
And I'll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with You
The simplest of all love songs
I want to bring to You
So I'll let my words be few
Jesus, I am so in love with You

Often, I think of Jesus’ words; how they were few, but they were powerful. Not one of His Words fell to the ground void. Not one of His Words were useless or in vain. Not one of His Words were wasted or sinful. Paul had the humble gumption of saying, “Imitate me, then, just as I imitate Christ” 1 Cor. 11:1. Oh, to be that brave! I want my words to be few and yet, truthful. Truthful and yet, full of love and mercy. Full of love and mercy and yet, direct. Full of mercy, direct and yet, worthy of following. Words of worth, spoken by a person of worth; not worthless words spoken by a worthless person. I don’t want to be worthless. I tremble at 2 Kings 17:15, “They refused to obey his instructions, they did not keep the covenant he had made with their ancestors, and they disregarded his warnings. They worshiped worthless idols and became worthless themselves, and they followed the customs of the surrounding nations, disobeying the LORD's command not to imitate them”. We are not to imitate worthless people. We are to imitate Christ; in word and in deed. When I ponder Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your former leaders, who spoke God's message to you. Think back on how they lived and died, and imitate their faith”, I remember my 1st Spiritual mentor, Gayle Shaw. She was worthy to imitate, because she always sought to imitate Christ. She wasn’t perfect, but she tried to be…humbly and without telling a soul.
So what does the Scripture teach us about our words? Well, Psalm 37:30-31 says: The words of good people are wise, and they are always fair. They keep the law of their God in their hearts and never depart from it. King David knew how to choose his words, as it is written, My thoughts will be clear; I will speak words of wisdom. I will turn my attention to proverbs and explain their meaning as I play the harp. Psalm 49:3-4. Wisdom instructs us, My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen to my words. Never let them get away from you. Remember them and keep them in your heart. They will give life and health to anyone who understands them. Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts. Never say anything that isn't true. Have nothing to do with lies and misleading words. Proverbs 4:20-24

Well, it all sounds easy enough, except when we are wronged. When we are lied about and our character is slandered. What about the times we want to defend ourselves or defend God’s ministry on the earth? Immediately, Wisdom speaks the answer, The LORD sees to it that truth is kept safe by disproving the words of liars. Proverbs 22:12 Do I really believe God is Truth and there is no lie in Him. Do I really believe that though every man be a liar, God is not a man that He would lie to me? Do I really believe that God keeps His Word and promises to me and no matter what the circumstances seem to be, that God will keep His words? If I believe God, then I have to believe Proverbs 22:12. He will disprove the words of liars. He will see to it that truth is kept safe. But I have to let my words be few. I guess my prayer today is “LORD, let my words be few”….That reminds me of a song (yeah, I know, everything does).