Worthless or worthy?
What we say indicates to anyone listening what is important to us.
After witnessing what could have been a tragic accident a few years back, I telephoned the mother of one of drivers to say her daughter was in a car wreck. She responded, "how's the car? We just got that car a month ago..."
From the way we talk about the weather to the world news, from my aches and pains to my prayers, from the plans we make to the way we expound on the past, present, and future, our history and our destiny, the purpose and meaning of life - they all reflect what we value and in a very real way what we worship.
“If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” (Jam 1:26 NLT)
How much more does it indicate our beliefs about God?
So when I come to church and sing praises to God, after gossiping about my family? I’m fooling myself.
If I pray before eating in a restaurant, but then speak crudely and rudely afterward? Worthless.
When I tweet, post and share on social media something untrue or hurtful - If that’s the last glimpse someone has of us? Then the religion that you and I represent can be considered worthless.
If I say that God’s not going to do anything one way or the other, or it’s pointless to serve the God who allows suffering, or God will forgive so I may as well do something I know is sinful – our religion is what? Worthless.
“Therefore this is what the LORD says: "If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me;
if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman.
Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them.” (Jeremiah 15:19 NIV)
But then if we are following closely after Jesus, if we are immersed in God’s words, if we are spending time in communion with the Creator in prayer and with people who love Jesus, then what we say will sound more and more like Him.
Speak worthy.