watch your words

Chocolate Beans

Posted on by Betsy

Today’s devotional is a follow up to the previous one where I discussed bringing my rusty French speaking skills out of the dull chambers of my high school mind and tried to communicate in France. Some of my attempts worked, but others … well, you be the judge.

We were in a small chocolatier watching a demonstration of how chocolate is made. Our local guide (the one who had encouraged my French) was giving us a talk on the history of chocolate, from the very first discovery of the cocoa bean to the present. The store owner had a large cocoa pod on the counter that contained beans. She described how the beans were used as currency due to their high value once certain foreign royal courts discovered the magic of “le pot du chocolat chaud,” or hot chocolate. When the cocoa beans were first introduced in France, however, the king rejected them because he thought they looked like “goat poo,” as the store owner delicately explained, and thus missed out on immense riches that others were able to snatch up as they rushed to procure the beans.

The missed opportunity and the reference to “goat poo” struck my high school brain hard and I said aloud, “Oh merde!” (Google it.) The three French ladies working behind the marble chocolate slab began to giggle and our local guide laughed and told me I was right. I probably shouldn’t have said that, but I was relieved that it made everyone laugh.

The writer of Ecclesiastes has something to say about this:

Ecclesiastes 5 (Common English Bible)

2 Don’t be quick with your mouth or say anything hastily before God, because God is in heaven, but you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few.

Have you ever blurted out something only to instantly regret it? Have you ever spoken a word in anger that seemed rash a few hours later when you calmed down? Have you wished you hadn’t fired off an email in haste? We all have these moments. It is in those moments that we need to pause, breathe, and ask the Holy Spirit to come and duct tape our mouths for a few hours.

Solomon reminds us that God is always watching and listening. He advises that we should consider our words and minimize the impact they might have on a situation. Thoughtful repartee is what is needed in this world of mudslinging and name calling. Indeed, it is often better to just shut up.

May our words be a sweet as chocolate today, and may others be blessed by our consideration.

Chocolate Making

The Power of Words

Posted on by Betsy

 I have a favorite children’s sermon I like to do that demonstrates the power of words. I hand a child a paper plate and a full tube of toothpaste and ask them to squeeze out every bit of the toothpaste onto the plate. While they are doing this, we talk about good words that build people up and bad words that tear people down. It is always a little scary to ask the kids for examples of bad words, as I am afraid that they might quote a parent right there in the sanctuary, so I try to confine it to playground talk. This backfired on me one time when a child proclaimed that his daddy, who happened to be our Trustee chair, cussed a lot at home. The fellow sheepishly raised his hand and nodded to the congregation as they laughed. Three months later told me he hadn’t cussed in three months. Kids will call you out!!

Then I take the plate of toothpaste and the empty tube and hand it to another child and ask them to put all the toothpaste back in the tube. It confuses them, and often two or three will try until they all realize it can’t be done. It is the same with words. Once they are out, you can’t take them back.   

Our Scripture passage today makes the same point in a less messy way. The simple truth is that words have power. Words can build people up and strengthen relationships, or they can destroy a person’s ambitions, security, self-esteem, and hope. If you have ever been unfairly criticized by a parent, boss, or co-worker, you know the sting of a word said harshly. 

Proverbs 15:1-7 (Common English Bible)

A sensitive answer turns back wrath,
    but an offensive word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge,
    but the mouth of a fool gushes with stupidity.
3 The Lord’s eyes are everywhere,
    keeping watch on evil and good people.

4 Wholesome speech is a tree of life,
    but dishonest talk breaks the spirit.
5 A fool doesn’t like a father’s instruction,
    but those who heed correction are mature.

6 Great treasure is in the house of the righteous,
    but the gain of the wicked brings trouble.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge,
    but the hearts of fools have none.

We can appreciate the direct approach these Proverbs take. The short series of contrasts make the point very clearly. Did you have a favorite? I especially like verse 2: “The tongue of the wise enhances knowledge, but the mouth of a fool gushes with stupidity” (Common English Bible). This can be verified right now by reading people’s comments on Twitter or Facebook. This verse sums up all of the wisdom literature in a concise sentence and is a reminder to us of the importance of seeking wisdom throughout our lives. It also reminds us to stay quiet when we really don’t know what we’re talking about. If only the television pundits would do likewise! We live in an era of misinformation where opinion and agenda are substitutes for factual news and it has left us bereft of the truth.

Fortunately, we who know Jesus know the Truth. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6, Common English Bible). In a world that lacks any conventional or common wisdom, it is imperative that we hold fast to the Truth and teach him to our children. 

As you go about your day, ponder these verses about the power of words. Wholesome speech is indeed a tree of life! (See verse 4.) Are you using your words to build up others, or do you prefer to gossip? Are your words peppered with anger and hurt? Do you need to go and make amends with someone because of something you said?

Words have power. Use them carefully.

Power by Michelle Robertson

Watch Your Word

Posted on by Betsy

A rabbi named Joseph Telushkin is a well known speaker on the subject of taming your tongue. The scriptures call us to consider the power of our words and their ability to hurt people. At the conclusion of his speech, Telushkin asks his audience an interesting question. He invites them to raise their hand if they think that if they tried really, really hard, they could go twenty-four hours without saying an unkind thing to or about someone else. Typically only a small minority of the audience raises their hands, while the rest of them chuckle and shake their heads no.

Let’s think about that…do you think you could make it twenty-four hours without saying something negative or derogatory to or about someone else?

Then the rabbi makes this salient point: If you couldn’t go twenty-four hours without alcohol, you would recognize that you have a drinking problem. If you couldn’t go twenty-four hours without a cigarette, you would know that you are probably addicted to nicotine. So if you can’t go twenty-four hours without making a negative comment, you have lost control of your tongue.

I told this story in a recent sermon on James 5, and church member texted me that afternoon and said that she didn’t even make it a full hour! What we think often comes out in what we say, and it is definitely the case that our thoughts and attitudes are revealed in our behavior and our conversations.

Our passage in Hebrews today reminds us that nothing we say, think, or do is hidden from God’s sight. He has provided his word as a daily guide for our interactions with one another. The things we do and say are under his watchful eye, and everything is uncovered and laid bare before him:

Hebrews 4 (New International Version)

12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

This is why it is imperative to live under the authority of God’s word. It is active and alive. It is sharper than a double-edged sword and it cuts to the heart of the matter. It is the standard by which we must give an account for our actions. Reading, understanding, and doing the word of God will keep us in line with God’s expectations of us.

Luckily, we have a great high priest to help us.

Jesus the Great High Priest

14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The old WWJD movement, where we were invited to consider What Would Jesus Do in any situation, was really a smart thing. If we are being held accountable to the word of God, wouldn’t it be smart to do things and say things that mirror the Word of God?

God sent Jesus to be an intermediator for us, allowing us access to the throne of grace. He is the Word that is sharp enough to judge our thoughts and attitudes. He is the Word that is a double-edged sword. He is the Word who offers us mercy and grace when our words betray us.

So consider what you say today. Consider what God’s word says. Consider what Jesus would do and say. And remember that when you need help, you will find mercy and grace every time you approach God’s throne.

God gives us his Word on it.

Long Shadows by Michelle Robertson