When I was a youngster we used to say a little rhyme that went like this:

“Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.”

As a child I was endeavoring to keep the neighborhood bullies from getting an advantage on me by declaring that statement. Now that I am an adult I realize how untrue that ill-famed declaration is — greater yet — it is very unscriptural. It is true that sticks and stones can break my bones. All the same, names and unkind words do hurt — they can kill you — no matter who you are. Unkind and untrue words can and many times do serious harm. This is what I mean: As believers we are commanded to put a watch over our lips.

1 Peter 3:10-12 (NKJV)

{10} For he who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.

{11) Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.

{12} For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”

The purpose of this topic is to uncover the truth. It simply is to put you in remembrance of what the Lord has commanded us all to do in relationship to our tongue and lips. The third chapter of James is dedicated to that little member in our body that gets many into trouble (James 3:1-12). In Proverbs we see another unforgettable scripture that causes us to think not only what we say about others — but ourselves as well.

Proverbs 18: 21 (NKJV)

{21} Death and life are in the power of the tongue; And those who love it will eat it’s fruit.

Either we are speaking death or we are speaking life — there is power in our words. Whether we are speaking life or death, we will eat the fruit of life or death.

My questions to you are: What are you speaking? According to Proverbs 18:21, what you are speaking you will eat it’s fruit — be it life or death. What fruit are you eating? Take a moment and do a little inventory. Inspect the fruit that is in your life. If you don’t like the fruit, put an axe to it’s root ( Luke 3:9). You may ask “how do I put an axe to the root” ? By changing your talk — you will change your walk.

Think back to 1 Peter 3:10 — For he or she who would love life, and also see good days — let him or her cease from speaking evil — and his or her lips from speaking untruth, dishonesty, deception or deceitfulness. “What We Are Speaking, We Are Seeking.” In other words, we are going to reap the harvest of what we are saying with our mouths. Therefore, what we say about someone else will in time be in plain sight in our own lives, one way or another.

WHAT ABOUT JESTING?

There are those who can’t seem to get along in life without a practical joke or making an unkind remark about someone else. When they are confronted with this type of behavior they usually come back with the old saying, “I was only joking” (Proverbs 26:18-19). Let’s see what the scriptures have to say.

Ephesians 5: 3-7 (NKJV)

{3} But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;

{4} neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

{5} For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.

{6} Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. {7} Therefore do not be partakers with them.

I did a study on foolish talking and jesting. Below is what I found.

FOOLISH TALKING
Offensive, abusive language, ridicule, or what tends to expose another to disrespect.

NOR JESTING
Artfully turned discourses or words, that can be easily inverted to other meanings; chaste words which, from their connection, and the manner in which they are used, convey an obscene or offensive meaning. It also means jests, puns, and humorous sayings of all kinds — which are not convenient. They do not rise to the proper standard; they are absolutely improper themselves, and highly unbecoming in those who profess Christianity. Now, before I am misunderstood, let me help you understand. If anyone loves having a good time, I do. What I am simply saying is that we, as God fearing people, need to be watchful of our words, and what we portray. Our manner of speech and the words we use should not have a hidden or two-fold meaning. We should never cleverly attempt to make fun of or take advantage of someone else by using words that would and could hurt them. The sad thing about this is we all, at one time or another, have either been villain or victim of this — it was, and is not proper.

FOOLISH TALKERS & COURSE JESTERS
Did you ever notice where the foolish talkers and course jesters are listed in Ephesians 5:4-5? They are listed among fornicators – those who practice extramarital sexual activity. They are listed with the unclean — unholy, defile. Covetousness is on that list of people — those who desire or lust for something that is someone else’s.

Case in point: If you purchase something and someone wants what you have, that is covetousness. They don’t want their own, they want yours. It could also be apparent as an individual wanting another person’s spouse or anything that doesn’t rightfully belong to him or her. Filthiness rounds out the list. All that is opposite to purity. Our words, if not put in the proper setting, can lead to more ungodly things. It is appropriate for us to take a good look at where we are, where we’ve been, and where we are going. If we don’t like where we are — admit that we are the one who is responsible for being there. If we don’t like where we have been — we can’t afford to park in the past. If we are not sure where we are going, then we, by the Power of ‘The Holy Ghost,’ can create the change, by changing our words. – AWM

Copyright © 2010 Anthony N. Wade Ministries — All Rights Reserved. This material may not be rewritten or reproduced without the written approval of the author.

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