Nov. 20, 2016 – Stewardship Sunday Text: Proverbs 17 (various verses)
Dear Friends in Christ,
Human beings are ridiculous. “Wow, you really went out on a limb with that one Pastor.” I say this after observing the words used after the election. Some people should be frozen out of Twitter. Others should have their mouths washed out with soap. Remember that from days gone by? The rest of us should ignore all the inane drivel and whining and apocalyptic meanderings.
An old Jewish saying speaks of slander as the “third tongue” that slays three: the speaker, the person spoken to, and the person spoken of. Rather than opening our mouths or listening to evil speech, we need to learn to control our tongue and shut our ears. Words do hurt people yet we throw them around like nothing.
Today is Stewardship Sunday and how we speak is important in God’s eyes. Using Proverbs 17 as our base text we will look at . . .
“THE POWER OF WORDS”
Solomon writes in verse 4, “An evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.” If we don’t welcome gossip and slander then they lose their force. We need to put up the stop sign when someone goes down that path.
“Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.” (v. 5) How often do we laugh at the misfortune of others? When others fall we become taller. To laugh at those going through trials is making fun of God who is there to help.
In verse 14 Solomon likens starting strife to letting water leak through. Before you know it it’s a gusher and you are drowning in your own words. One word builds upon another until everything is out-of-control.
“He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous are both alike an abomination to the Lord.” (v. 15) Government and the courtroom are good examples of this. At work or school, the person who sticks up for his or her Christian faith and does what is right is condemned for being narrow-minded or out of touch. Meanwhile we hail cheaters who are smart and get ahead. God hates such perversions of justice.
If we are honest with ourselves we break many of these commands in a single day. We can’t make excuses that “everyone does it” or “I’m addicted to social media.” Think of the harm done. Relationships ruined. Tears caused. Hatred caused by inappropriate words. We all need God’s forgiveness.
How about the right use of words, verse 9, “Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.” Words can be used to defend one another. We want to protect each other’s reputation. We don’t condone sin but we need to be careful we have all the facts.
We have these encouraging words in our text, “A friend loves at all times…Whoever restrains his words has knowledge.” (vs. 17a, 27a) As in all our actions for the Lord when we use words rightly they are done in love. As friends and family we are there to build each other up. Who hasn’t heard from someone a sentence like this, “Years ago I was sick and depressed and you spoke some blessed words and I have always been appreciative of that.” All of us can comfort and strengthen and encourage others with the things we let come out of our mouth. The Lord through prayer can give you those words.
On the last day of the Civil War, officer Joshua Chamberlain was in command of the Union army. His soldiers lined up on both sides of the road that the Confederate army had to march down to surrender. One wrong word and the peace could be a bloodbath. In an act as brilliant as it was moving, Chamberlain ordered his troops to salute their foe! No vicious words – only guns in salute and swords raised to honor.
The Lord has made us people of grace. Jesus said, “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36) Those who know his forgiveness are to be strikingly unlike everyone else. What if we saluted our enemies and kept our mouths quiet? Think of the impact in our workplaces and in our families. Christ’s grace reflected through us.
That grace was declared to us sinners, “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” (Isa. 1:18) Because Jesus Christ died for us, we can receive heaven itself. In the Bible, He has given thousands of words of peace to the troubled, comfort to the lonely, courage to the faint-hearted, and joy to the sad.
Here’s the key: the more our speech conforms to God’s Words, the more we will speak the right thing at the right time. Words can be evil but they can also lead to good. The Gospel is the best word of all because it takes away sin, removes all guilt, and restores us as the people of God. Lord, help us to speak what is right for the good of your Kingdom. Amen.