Work and Talk

"From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward." (Proverbs 12:14 NIV) 

Words, words, words! Talk, talk, talk! Should I mention gossip? Enough said.

How easy it is to become embroiled in circumstances with unwise words. Consider the times you have spoken too quickly and became entangled in a web of trouble. Of course, you may have escaped such entanglement simply by having thought before you spoke and were later thankful that you did.

 

In the New Testament, James wrote, " 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" (3:2 NIV). Then, "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. 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" (3:5-6 NIV).

 

In our society, many people have paid dearly for their unwise mouth. We've heard all the clichés. Open mouth insert foot. Closed lips sink no ships. Think before you speak. Listen more than you talk. What might be the results IF we would simply listen and pay attention to these snippets of truth.

 

Yet, there is also a bright side to this issue. We certainly are not going to be silent for the rest of our lives. So, we have the general promise from the Wise Teacher that our words can bless us with personal satisfaction. We gain soul comfort and inward pleasure that truly satisfies when "the fruit of their lips" is good and wise words. When we encourage and otherwise speak words that bless and edify others, we discover that our reward is unexplainable to others (John  4:32).

 

And we have the promises of Scripture: "A man reaps what he sows" (Galatians 6:7); "God 'will repay each person according to what they have done' " (Romans 2:6 NIV). The work of their hands brings them reward.

 

Dear Father, thank you for your grace and mercy. Grant that we may speak good things and work for your glory. I pray this in the name of Jesus. AMEN

 

Be strong and courageous today in your work and talk,