Foolish Talking
Nothing reveals the lack of deep spirituality more quickly than foolish and nonsensical talking. It is ever the mark of shallowness. And although seemingly insignificant, there are few spiritual ills so contagious, widespread and devastating.
"Death and life are in the powers of the tongue."-Prov. 18:21. "For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned."-Matt. 12:37.
Foolishness is in the same category as pride, deceit, blasphemy, thefts, adultery and murder (Mark 7). Foolish tallcing and jesting are listed with idolatry, covetousness, fornication and ALL uncleanness in Ephesians 5: 3-5.
When we talk much we always sin. E'or "in the multitude of words there wanteth not sin."-Prov. 10:19. "A fool-s voice is known by multitude of words."-Eccl. 5:3. God says "Study to be quiet . . . Therefore let thy words be few."-I Thess. 4 :11; Eccl. 5:2.
"He that hath knowledge spareth his words . . . Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom . . . The mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness."-Prov. 17:27; 15: 21; 15:14.
Some try to justify nonsensical talk by saying it helps folk to forget troubles-two wrongs never make a right. The Lord never intends His people to forget trouble-it is God appointed and needful.
Eccl. 7:2-3 says "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of feasting" . . . and, "Sorrow is better than laughter: for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better."
Trials and afflictions are often God's means of drawing His own nearer to Himself, or to teach some needful lesson; therefore they are blessings in disguise. Rather than forget, we are to remember that "the Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble."-Nahum 1:7. "Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray."-James 5:13.
We are strictly charged to "avoid vain babblings."-I Tim. 6:20. We are to be an example of the believers in word, and in conversation. I Tim. 4:12. "Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus." Col. 3:17. "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying."-Eph. 4:29.
"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom."-James 3:13.
Paul admonishes in Titus 2:12 "to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world." "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness."-2 Peter 3:11.
"If any man among you seem to be religious, and brideth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." Jas. 1:26. "But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation." 1 Pet. 1:15. "Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."-Matt. 12 :36.
We profess to be followers of the Lord, but how little we know of the true meaning is evidenced by our very words, deeds, and powerlessness.
In Neh. 13, we read of a mixed multitude who could not speak the language of God's people. "And their children spake half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speal; in the Jew's language, but according to the language of each people." How like many today whose speech is so mixed with that of the world, that they have become a confusion. This mixed multitude believed they were of Israel. But when search was made, their names were not found written in the book-they were denied, and turned away.
We can never convince the world that we are citizens of another country, so long as we speak their language, and follow their customs.
Since "the thought of foolishness is sin," may we sincerely pray the prayer of avid, as recorded in Psalms 19 :14: "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer."
"He that saith he abideth in him, ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked." I John 2 :6. -Ethel Meadows
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