Chapter 4: "Don't Give It A Thought!"

Chapter 4: "Don't Give It A Thought!"

Every time I read a verse about carelessness in speech, I am convicted. “Reckless words pierce like a sword,” Proverbs tells us, “but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (12: 18). In The Living Bible, the paraphrase of that verse reads, “Some people like to make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise soothe and heal.” The word reckless is defined as “careless, heedless, not regarding consequences; headlong and irresponsible; rash. 1 Some synonyms are incautious, unmindful, neglectful, unthinking, and thoughtless. Making statements — and asking questions — without thinking can cause pain.

……

Often we are irresponsible and careless about exaggeration.  In his book Tongue in Cheek, Joseph Stowell writes, "Exaggeration is nothing more than lying about details to make information sensational, interesting, or manipulative…Exaggeration erodes trust and credibility, two building blocks of successful relationships." 

……

We may also be careless when it comes to flattery.  To flatter means to praise too much, untruthfully, or insincerely in order to win favor.  When we flatter, we may be trying to place someone in debt to us by commending an action, an ability, or a physical or character trait.  It differs from genuine praise or compliment by its motive. 

……

The carelessness of our speech may also show up in our lack of wisdom when we spout surface answers do deep problems and hurts.  … I heard singer and composer John Fischer say, “Much of my life falls between the answers.” Many of us experience this. Not that there aren’t answers. But God’s ways are higher than either our ways or our comprehension. In the complexities of life, we flounder until we accept the fact that while truth is simple, life is, in many cases, impossible to understand. Please then, deliver me from clichés. Deliver me from pat answers. Deliver me from surface statements about deep and complex issues. Deliver me from careless speech.

……

But what, oh what, can we do about the times we see the tendency toward rash and careless speech in our own life? First of all, we need to pray for quick sensitivity to the voice of the Holy Spirit. When He convicts us, we must confess our speech as sin. It is more than a goof, a slip of the tongue. It is sin that we must confess. We must also ask God’s help to improve in this area.

……

 Read Proverbs 12:18, 13:2-3, Matthew 12:35-36, write in your own words what these proverbs say about our speech. 

Think about a time in the last week when you either offered careless words of exaggeration, flattery or hollow, trite wisdom.  Why do you think you did that at that moment?  What will you do differently now after studying this lesson and these verses?

Read Proverbs 15:28 and rewrite it in your own words.  How will you speak righteously in the coming week?  What are a couple ways you could "guard your tongue" this coming week?