Perspectives

Our Words Have Consequences

  • Peter Friesen, Author
  • Retired Minister

Matthew 12:35-37… 35) A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36) But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37) For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (NIV)… These are the words that Jesus spoke.

Agree to disagree: True or false. This one-liner is one of the biggest confidence trick jobs that Christian folks can fall for. I am not saying that you must always agree with everyone and everything. There is a whole lot of difference when we do not agree with something someone says or does that, we might know is wrong. But when we get caught up with this “agree to disagree” stuff, lecturing people, believing that it is okay for us to do this because we feel so clever and are so mature, we are wrong.

After we have done our soiled little deed we can not walk away with a clean Christian bill of health, thinking that we merely exercised this agreeing and disagreeing thing. For those who do this type of thing, I beg to differ with you. I say this because I too run into folks who believe this type of behavior is okay because they hear others saying this.

However, they rarely hear the other person’s description of the person whom they have just done this agree and disagree thing with. Behind closed doors, their conversation is rather different, and things get a little ugly at times. When we do this kind of stuff, we should realize that some folks really get ticked off, and it hurts our testimony. The Bible also has something to say about this…

There are times when we speak without thinking, I know I do, and later I hate myself for it. Now the words which we utter when the traditional restraints are removed… perhaps I could say it in another way. If I babble without thinking and I hurt someone, I can not say to myself, “this is one of them there agree to disagree things,” and then feel proud because I have convinced myself I can let people have it below the belt line, that is being foolish.

When I am in public, I should always strive to keep my conversation noble, but when I have a private conversation with an individual that rubs me the wrong way, well… I tend to loosen up and my dark side comes to the surface that should not happen.

Most of the time a person is a model of charm and courtesy in public, when they know they are being watched they are deliberately careful about their words. But when jealousy comes to the surface and this individual is alone with the person that they despise their temper takes over and a flood of unkind words fall from their lips… these words spoken in anger can cause the greatest damage that will last a long time.

There is an unpleasant warning in Matthew 12:33-35… We must pay attention to what Scripture teaches all our life so that our sensitivity is never diminished. Our responsiveness is never diminished; our spiritual hearing never becomes spiritual muteness. It is human nature that we hear only what we are listening for and only what we have taught ourselves to hear

Let us examine ourselves, no let us go one step further. Let us examine the words that we have spoken. We might just discover our heart’s condition. If I have spoken hurting words, nothing will bring them back, and it will create hurt feelings. I must remember that God does not judge me by the words which I speak with care and forethought, but He judges the words that I speak when the restraints are gone, and I say things in anger. When I realize that I have hurt someone’s feelings I must ask for forgiveness and set things right… To God Be the Glory Great Things He Has Done.

Would you pray this prayer with me? “Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Forgive my sins. I want my life to change. My thoughts and my attitude need to change. I do not have the peace in my heart that I yearn for. I want that peace, joy and happiness that fulfills my heart’s desire. Please let the Holy Spirit help me be the kind of Christian that will honour Your Name. Amen”