Pray Before You Say Or Pay (The Consequences)

Pray Before You Say Or Pay (The Consequences) Kelly Durant 9-11-16

James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

2. When you were young did you ever hear this from a friend, “Look at that gal!” when they saw the most attractive person ever, with the perfect body, perfect hair but then when they went to talk to them just after a few minutes all the attractiveness gets disinflated? A person may look so good on the outside but by their speech you can discern if they are shallow, ignorant, arrogant, or offensive. People reveal who they really are by their speech, be it dumb, shallow, ignorant, or offensive! How do people see you? Are your words for extending God’s Word or for your own advancement?

What we speak matters! Isn’t it true that most of time we have small talk with others because we don’t want to get into another’s business to make them uncomfortable? For example, ‘It’s been raining a lot, don’t you think? It’s been hotter than usual, right?’ These are good conversation starters but if we only talk about the weather all the time people are going to think that you and I are either dumb, shallow, ignorant, or crazy, right? Or sometimes people do not talk to you because they may not trust you being afraid you might repeat something said and distort it and spread it around. And some people are too loud and aggressive so they are avoided.

As Christians we must discipline ourselves every day to become wise in our speech or we will come off as a hypocrite or a fool. We are the ‘salt of the earth’, and what we say should add a good flavor to any conversation. Some people instead, however, in place of adding salt they add too much of their own bitter lemons, or too many chili peppers and then that everyone leaves with a bad taste in their mouth! If you are a person that likes to pridefully show off, offend or humiliate, argue or be smart-mouthed then you need a serious repentance. Speech reveals the heart, and a Christian lacking in having a holy pure heart needs to ask God to break them and remake them, otherwise you are harming God’s work by making others stumble!

3. Do you think everyone here could all use more wisdom in what they say? That they need to pray before they say? Some people bring unity and togetherness with their loving, inspired-by-Jesus sincere words, but then there are some others that with their words are like superglue remover, who seem to dissolve with negative comments the unity and love God wants us to have together. Remember, it is better that people wonder why you did not speak, than to wonder why you said what you said!

Isn’t it sad when a person is saying to you, look at that person over there, they only come here to take advantage of what you give away, and you can discern they are saying it with the jealous motive of hoping you will stop giving to them so they can take advantage of you and get more for their selves? When people make any comments remember this verse, Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” When a person speaks of something and accuses of something, the first one you should try to analyze the person speaking, not the one accused.

We all are commanded by Jesus to forgive one another as many times we all mess up by saying something wrong, we can being selfishly motivated or controlling at times, so admit it to yourself, I probably have said some dumb, ignorant, and offensive things to others! You and I must learn to pray before we say or we will bring on suffering! The suffering of others and also the suffering of your own sinful guilt and rejection. Ask yourself, ‘If my words were like those written from a pencil would my eraser get worn out before the pencil is too short?’