Set a Guard over Your Mouth
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July 19, 2009 |
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 "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).
You should not say anything that is not beneficial and nothing that goes beyond acceptable limits. You should use positive words and professions of faith in every kind of situation.
We delay our own answers and blessings because of the words that come out of our mouths. Some inappropriate words will break down the deeds of faith we have been storing up. I hope you will receive all the answers and blessings God has prepared for you by looking for the way to set a guard over your mouth in order to bear fruits from your lips.
1. You Will Receive the Answers and Blessings of God When You Don't Stumble in What You Say.
Even very good words may not be edifying or glorifying God if they are uncontrolled. Also, even if you speak with a good intention, the listener may not accept it as it was intended. James 3:2 says, "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." What should we do to become those who don't stumble in what is said so that we can receive the answers and blessings of God?
Matthew 15:18 says, "But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart," and Matthew 12:35 also says, "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil." Thus when you throw out every form of evil and fill your heart with truth and become a man of spirit and a man of whole spirit, you can always speak and act in goodness. If your heart is full of goodness, you don't need to set a guard over your mouth. But if you still have evil remaining in you, you should control the words by setting a guard over your mouth.
2. The Way to Setting a Guard over Your Mouth
1) You should not say a word that is not beneficial in every kind of situation.
Telling a lie is not beneficial, and not only that, it is detrimental for both the speaker and the hearer. The hearer might face material or mental damage. It is a work of flesh to tell a lie, and it is a sin before God, too. Thus, you shouldn't tell even little lies to hide something or make excuses.
'Irrelevant answers' are words that have no benefit. They are useless and profit nothing. 'Irrelevant answers' are answers that have no relation to the question. In most cases, you give irrelevant answers because you don't focus on what the other person is saying but you listen with your own thoughts. You can reduce irrelevant answers just by listening to the other person attentively. Giving irrelevant answers is not a great sin, but often there are lies or words that put the blame on others contained in irrelevant answers. So you should change the habit of giving irrelevant answers.
Even jesting or some of the popular expressions of the world are also meaningless to believers. Jesting is something said or done to elicit laughter. Those who joke and jest a lot cannot be taken seriously and such people don't appear to be trustworthy, so we find it difficult to share secrets with them or give them important work. It is also difficult for those who enjoy jesting and telling jokes to go into spirit (Ephesians 5:4). In 'joking around' there are many exaggerations and things that are not really right. The trend of the world can be found in popular expressions of the world. When you use such expressions, you might also be influenced by the worldly fashions. Even though they don't contain bad meanings, it is better not to speak such words if you are really longing for New Jerusalem.
In Matthew 12:36 Jesus said, "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment." Of course, if you repent of it, speaking careless and meaningless words will be forgiven. The problem is that there are many careless words that you just say and then forget. Proverbs 10:19 also says, "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise." You should be more careful not to say such meaningless words in any situation. I hope you will say beneficial words, words that give grace to and edify others, give glory to God, plant faith into others, and give life to others. Think before you say anything to determine whether or not what you say is beneficial for both you and the listener (Ephesians 4:29). I hope you will have only spiritual conversations that give grace, edify and plant faith each other.
2) You should not say anything that goes too far.
Going too far here means going beyond limits of position and standing. So, it is arrogant people who are likely to say things that go too far. Examples of words that go too far are words of passing judgment, condemnation and being critical of others.
Men who are mere creatures do not have any right to judge or condemn anybody. The right to judge and condemn solely belongs to God the Creator (James 4:11-12). If God's children complain and express resentment, it is also 'going too far'. We would have fallen into eternal fire of Hell. But we are saved by God's grace and we can go into the beautiful heavenly kingdom now. But if we complain about our difficult environment and situations, or hold grudges against anybody, then it means we have forgotten the grace of salvation. Those who are humble and know their position and responsibilities will accept any work with thanks and obey.
When Virgin Mary heard from an angel she would conceive and give birth to a baby, she accepted it saying, "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word" even in the situation if a single woman became pregnant she would be condemned and stoned. The Syrophoenician woman whose daughter was set free from demon possession did not get disappointed, give up or get upset thinking she was insulted when Jesus compared this Gentile woman with a dog. She humbled herself completely before Jesus asking Him with unchanging faith and received an answer (Matthew 15:27).
3) You should use positive words and confession of faith in any situation.
Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." The more pessimistic words you speak, the more difficult the things will go. But with optimistic words of faith, even difficult things may turn out well. David did not see the reality or say anything negative when he fought against Goliath. He only looked up to the almighty God and went forward with a profession of faith(1 Samuel 17:45-47). God was pleased with the faith of David and allowed Israel to win the victory very easily in a battle with a single stone.
On the contrary, the ten among the twelve spies who scouted the land of Canaan faced miserable consequences from negative words. God promised the sons of Israel many times that He would give them the land flowing with milk and honey. But ten of those spies spoke pessimistically after spying out the land of Canaan(Numbers 13:32-33). This negative report soon influenced most of the people very much. But Joshua and Caleb made positive professions saying 'they will be our prey' (Numbers 14:7-9).
The more difficult situation you are facing, I hope, you will become more like Joshua and Caleb. If you are about to say something negative, you may even want to bite your tongue to keep from saying it. If you train yourself that way and always make positive professions, your heart and your environment will change.
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Proverbs 13:2 says, "From the fruit of a man's mouth he enjoys good." I pray in the name of the Lord that you will be blessed children of God who set a guard over your mouth and enjoy good from fruits of your mouth.
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