Words

I don’t know if you all saw the commercial for the movie “A Thousand Words” with Eddie Murphy? I never saw the movie, just the trailer. Anyway, the premise of it is that Eddie Murphy tends to stretch the truth sometimes and the lesson to be learned from the movie is that there are consequences for every word we speak. Anyway, I saw the preview and thought it was an interesting concept.

Then, I was reading my cousins blog and she blogged about something similar. Words, and the endless amount of words that we use. She shared that she was being challenged by the following verses:

James 1:19-20 - Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 10:19 - When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

Proverbs 31:26 - She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Again, I thought that’s an interesting idea. I didn’t really think about it again.

Last week, I came across the concept on another friends page! (I wonder if it’s something that keeps popping up, or something I am just noticing more?) Ever since then, I have really been thinking about this concept and the types of words we use, the things we say, and how they really can have impact on who we say them too. Is everything that comes out of our mouths pleasing to God? If our purpose is to bring other’s closer to Christ, do the words we say reflect that, that is our effort? I know not everything that comes out of my mouth does. Then I started to reflect on the things I say at work. The things I complain to my colleagues about. Am I showing them that I am thankful for all that the Lord’s given me?

I also started to reflect on this a lot when I decided to give up complaining for lent. I realized I complain about the smallest, insignificant things!! By complaining about them, I realize I let them take over my mood and my day. By the end of the day I am in a bad mood because of some really stupid things that I let get to me. By complaining and allowing myself to behave like this, I am in no way showing the people that I work with that I do this job for the Lord. And if anything, I am leading them further from what I believe!

Anyway, today I opened the daily bible verse that gets sent to me every day and BOOM. There it was again. Apparently, the Lord is trying to tell me something! Here is the verse:

“If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.”-- 1 Peter 4:11
And here is the reflection that came with it: We are given gifts to use in God's Kingdom for two reasons: 1) to bring glory to God, and, 2) to bless others. Whether we serve or speak, we are to do so with these two goals in mind, knowing that God will supply the strength to do what he has gifted us to do.

I think this verse speaks (no pun intended! haha) to both my issue at work (that I spoke about in the previous message) and to the types of words I use. I need to serve (work) in a way to bring glory to God and to bless others. That means no complaining and really it means to guard my tongue to ensure that I am “speaking the very words of God.” All of this is going to be a tough feat, but if my goal and purpose here is to bring people to Christ, it’s something I must really strive to do.

I am in no way done thinking about this, but while I continue to consider it I encourage you to, also :D