by David Brenneman
"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh." James 3:1-12.
“Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, so that those who come in may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light. So take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him.” Luke 8:16-18.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption." Ephesians 4:29-30.
What you see...what you hear. Of all the sensory inputs you have these two, by far, are greater than your sense of smell and touch or taste.
These two are what will either condemn or gain the praise of God towards anyone.
We either lift up the Name of Jesus with the tongue or we can throw a bucket of mud upon it in an instant with a slip of the tongue.
We can either listen to what helps us to grow in Christ, strengthen our faith, or we listen to the world's idea of joy, and entertainment.
When we put all 3 of the main points of those 3 verse segments together...we see something more to how our lives are to be lead than maybe we hadn't seen or realized.
There's no 'off time' for a Believer in Christ. We are to be aware of our speech, love and conduct at all times. Many a parent has inadvertantly learned to perhaps their shock and horror that a slip of the tongue had written upon the child they were forgetful was in the car with them at the time and their inappropriate words came out of their child's mouth.
Jesus, the Spirit, and Paul through the Spirit...teach us to to be careful. Careful of what we say, what we think, and what we say.
We can easily grieve the Spirit because of our carelessness in our speech or in what we listen to.
We don't consider that in that day upon which we give an account of our lives before Jesus that all that we said or listened to will be the main points of that accounting.
What we did in the body for Jesus. What we didn't do in the body for Jesus that we were supposed to.
What we said in the body for Jesus.
What we didn't say when we were supposed to.
Being careful of what we listen to also reaches into who we listen from. Some may not agree with what was written a few days ago and on other days of men not being taught by women. That's straight from 1 Timothy 2. Which is why, Biblically speaking there are no women preachers. Elder/Pastor/Teacher is in the male in the original language. Never in the female tense or use.
Being careful of what we listen to goes on to what music we listen to. Not all supposed Christian music that's out there actually has a proper language to it for worshipping our Lord and Savior.
intentionally listening to music that does nothing to uplift others or to point people to Jesus...or even speak of things that are sinful...ought not to be done. In my own ignorance of my younger years on this I used to listen to quite a bit of music that 'felt good', had a good beat etc. With no reguard for what it was feeding my heart.
And there it is.
The Spirit resides in the hearts of Believers. What are we feeding it?
Are we feeding it a constant diet of useless things that by no means the Spirit will agree to? Are we feeding it supposed teachings from people who are not called of God to what they are doing but claim they are? Are we feeding our hearts junk that is absolutely going to be embarrassing later on when we stand before Jesus?
What we feed our hearts eventually comes out of our hearts. That's what Jesus made sure His Disciples understood. That what comes out of the heart defiles the man/woman. Not what we physically eat.
Some may think that I harbor a gripe/grudge against sports in general. I do not. I do not like wht it does to some people who claim to be Christians. They toss "let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth" aside when the game starts. There are no exceptions to any part of living for Jesus. There's no 'free pass' while the game goes on. While it's likely 'ok' to be a fan of a team, by no means does it give anyone claiming the Name of Jesus the right to berate, belittle, or verbally shred, anyone for any reason. These are still people that the Father sent forth His Son to die on a cross for. Period. As I used to hear some men in God call these people and all people, these are still the image bearers of God.
Are you careful of what you listen to? The Berean Church wouldn't even take the Apostles at their word. Jesus said you will know people by their fruits. You will know if you are following a true man of God by his fruit...that which comes out of his mouth....by what he does...and if he's open enough...what he too listens to.
In James it says that he who knows what he ought to do and does not do it...sins. He doesn't say they make a mistake. He doesn't say they just messed up. They sin.
When we join with the world we inevitably set our hearts against what God wants. We read that too in the Scriptures.
When I was young, and in school, with a precious few years as the exception, I was constantly the target of cruel words by my peers. It didn't seem to matter what I tried to do to fit in it just wasn't working. In retrospect it's possible it's because of coming to Christ. I had even at one point tried to do the 'if you can't beat them, join them' mentality. To be honest, after actually succeeding at that, I was royally disgusted with myself.
Look at your life, look at your pod cast library. Look at what you stream, what you sit and watch on YouTube or other social media means. Look at your web browser history. Look at the stations on your radio. Look at the books you choose to read and or listen to.
Are any of these pointing you to growing in Christ or are they keeping you from that goal?
Another thing...don't trust your judgement in this. Be honest enough to ask the Spirit about it.
It's entirely possible to be a fan of a sport without crossing the line to uttering unwholesome words.
It is not possible to live a life that does utter unwholesome words and say it doesn't affect you. It, according the the Bible DOES work towards hardening your heart. Desensitizing you to the will of God for you. Making you ineffective in the work of God meant for you.
To trust in the Lord with all your heart means feeding your heart the right things in order to be able to do that.
Take care of what you listen to.
Take greater care of what you say.
People are watching...and...we WILL give an account of our lives before Jesus. Perhaps that day is much closer than we realize.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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