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Writings of David Chadwell “When there are many words,
transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise”
(Proverbs 10:19).
One of the distinctions between God and us is seen in the use of words. God
takes care about what He says; we often fail to be careful about what we say.
While emotions exist in God, God’s words are not chosen by His emotions; too
often our emotions choose our words. God uses His words wisely; we often use our
words regretfully. God knows the full context of what is said; we too often are
deceived by adding or imagining context. God knows both the motives and actions
produced by words; we do not. God is not deceived by words; we are.
On one occasion, those who led people religiously were certain that Jesus’
miracles could be “explained” as acts of evil. They accused Jesus of obtaining
his power from Satan. Jesus declared the inconsistency between who they said
they were and their acts. Jesus’ concluding observation is still chilling:
"But I tell you that every careless word that people
speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your
words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew
12:36, 37).
Many years ago, I heard an illustration that focused on a dying man who had
multiple sons. The sons could not get along. Just before death, the man asked
all his sons to come to his bedside with a wooden board, a nail, and a hammer.
The sons gathered around their father’s bed with the board, nail, and hammer. He
asked the oldest to drive the nail through the board. He asked the middle son to
pull it out. He asked the youngest son to pull the hole out. Then the father,
looking at his sons, said, “Be careful what you say about each other.” Upon
saying that, he died.
Too many times I have exerted every effort known to me trying unsuccessfully to
unsay something I said in great confidence. Too many times I have been forced to
watch the destructive impact of something I said. To say with heartfelt meaning,
“I am sorry!” does not remove the hole left by what I said. God deliver me from
trying to fill the hole with self-justification, emotions I failed to control,
or excuses!
Perhaps most painful of all is to discover years later (with greater spiritual
maturity) the destruction caused by something I said. There are times in my
study today at specific moments that I say to myself, “I said what?” There is
little so foolish as the self-assurance of partial knowledge prancing in the
deceptive costume of total understanding. If we could limit to ourselves the
hurt done, that would be awful, but when that hurt envelops the blameless—that
is horrible!
Why would Jesus include our words in our judgment? In the same incident, Jesus
said, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills
the heart” (Matthew 12:34).
“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” (James 3:8-10).
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Writings of David Chadwell
