Speech

On Speech Part 1
Have you ever thought about the number of words we say in one day, the quality of what we say, or the source behind what we say?

I doubt few people do. The book of Ecclesiastes offers the following pointed advice in this matter: Eccl. 5:2 (ESV) Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few. The point here being that every thing you and I think about, act on, and say is before the Lord. For those who fear the Lord this is no small matter.

The quality of our words.
How many of us would have to change our conversation if God were to walk into the room? How many of us would write that hasty email, pen that nasty letter, or attempt to manipulate others if what we wrote had to first be proofread by God? Would you talk about your co-worker like you do if God were physically standing in the office? Would you use that tone with your wife if Christ were sitting at the supper table? Would you make those empty promises in front of Jesus? I seriously doubt many of us would fire off like we do if we really thought about things this way.

According to the writer of Ecclesiastes, God is present in these situations and God is standing in the room while our conversations take place whether we wish to acknowledge the fact or not. Again the verse reads, Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore, let your words be few. [Emphasis mine]. Before saying anything about anyone, before speaking rashly to someone about that thing they did that annoys us to no end, before promising someone you will do something knowing you won’t do it, we need to ask ourselves: “Is what I am about to say really true?” Is there clear evidence for what I am saying? Is what I am about to say or write beneficial to all who will come into contact with it? Am I doing this for the right reasons? Am I lifting this person up? OR am I just gossiping and tearing someone down because I have nothing else to talk about? Consider it wise that we consider and examine the quality of our words for they are before the Lord.