Gatekeepers Of Our Tongues
By Susan Klein
“A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
Proverbs 25:11 (NIV)
Oh, the power of the
spoken word! They can build up or tear down, instruct or deceive, lead to life
or to death. Once they’ve left our tongues, words can never be put back. Thus,
we must inspect our words carefully before they leave the building!
Recently, I saw an
old Arabian Proverb that proclaimed: “The words of the tongue should have three
gatekeepers: is it true, is it kind, is it necessary?” Wouldn’t we love to have
these three gatekeepers constantly attending our lips?!!
How easy is it to
tell a “little white lie” or only admit to a half-truth when it suits our
purpose? And who hasn’t embellished a story to make it more interesting for the
hearer? If we ignore the gatekeeper of truth,
our lying could lead to some seriously undesirable consequences. Scripture
admonishes, “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who are
truthful” (Proverbs 12:22, NLT). It also carries a warning: “A false witness
will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free” (Proverbs
19:5).
I know I’ve uttered
more than a few unkind words in my life. No sooner had they left my lips than I
wished I could have taken them back. I’ve learned (often the hard way) that “a
gentle answer turns away wrath but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).
Oftentimes, our unkind words are unleashed in the heat of anger or frustration.
Perhaps we feel let down, or our expectations haven’t been met. I believe the
gatekeeper of kindness understands
grace. Ephesians 4:32 says: “Be kind and compassionate to one another,
forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” If God could show such kindness and
compassion to me while I was steeped in sin, how can I not show kindness to others
whose offenses are far less?
“Is it necessary?” Have you ever not answered
the phone because the caller might talk for hours? Or, who of us hasn’t offered
unsolicited advice to a friend or family member when all they needed was a
listening ear? According to God’s Word, it is never necessary to use our words
to gossip, to slander, to betray a confidence, to tear another down, to
blaspheme, or to deceive. Conversely, it is always necessary to use our words
to comfort, to build up, to encourage, to teach, and to share the Word of God.
As King Solomon once
said, “He who guards his lips guards his soul” (Proverbs 13:3a). Wise words to
live by.
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Identify any gatekeepers you may
not be employing.
2. Choose what is necessary.
FURTHER
READING:
Susan
is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible
studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of
the Peace Team at Oakwood and also co-leads an on-site small group.
