"Watch Your Mouth!"

“Watch Your Mouth!”

During my pastorate in New Hampshire I received a phone call from a woman in the community demanding (not asking for) financial help. I explained to her that we networked through a downtown ministry which provided food and other assistance. She belligerently said that this organization offered her no support and hung up on me. Karen worked there at the time so I phoned her and found that the caller had been “x’ed out” from receiving help because she’d verbally abused the staff. It brought back another memory of my camp days when the Director would remind us, “Watch your mouth!” Who of us hasn’t gotten into trouble by not heeding this bit of down-home wisdom? (See the previous postings “Watch Your Language”, “Shooting from the Lip” and “Muscle Talk” for more on this topic.)

The Apostle Paul offered similar counsel to first century believers by writing, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, so that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29). He’s telling his readers (including us almost 20 centuries later) that there’s no place for morally corrupt speech in our lives. (The Greek word used refers to rotten fruit that’s not fit to be eaten in the other seven places it appears.) Our Lord’s brother had echoed this theme some years before: “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My (brothers and sisters), this should not be.” (James 3:10). We’re then called upon to replace unsavory words which tear others down with those that build them up. So in our speech we’re to “…make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.” (Romans 14:19).

This admonition from the inspired pen of Paul will be a blessing to the entire church—but only if we listen and allow it to shape our lives and attitudes. Let’s pay attention to our friend James one more time: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22, emphasis added). Will I say, “I will listen and not delay to keep your commands.” (Psalm 119:60) when it comes to using my mouth? Will you?

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan