A while back, I was blessed to read a thought-provoking article by Moises P. Reconalla. It speaks very eloquently and cogently about the power of words. It’s rather long, so I’ll reprint half of it today and half tomorrow. Please read and prayerfully consider.
Few people realize the importance of the words they speak.
There is almost no way to overemphasize the importance of what we say,
yet most people give it almost no thought, usually speaking without thinking.
The inspirational and classical author, Og Mandino, once asked, “Why is it then that so many of us go out of our own way to offend others with criticism and offensive judgments that so often come back to haunt us? Why do we allow our big mouths to dig ruts in our path so deep that our forward progress is finally nil?”
He continued and commented, “If your tongue has been busy accumulating enemies for you, enemies you do not need who can harm you, now is as good a time as any to cease and desist. How sad it would be for such a petty habit to destroy your great potential.”
Another very well-known author described the worst effects of criticism to the receivers. In Dale Carnegie’s book entitled “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” he declares “Criticism is futile because it puts a man on the defensive, and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a man’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses his resentment.”
The inspirational and classical author, Og Mandino, once asked, “Why is it then that so many of us go out of our own way to offend others with criticism and offensive judgments that so often come back to haunt us? Why do we allow our big mouths to dig ruts in our path so deep that our forward progress is finally nil?”
He continued and commented, “If your tongue has been busy accumulating enemies for you, enemies you do not need who can harm you, now is as good a time as any to cease and desist. How sad it would be for such a petty habit to destroy your great potential.”
Another very well-known author described the worst effects of criticism to the receivers. In Dale Carnegie’s book entitled “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” he declares “Criticism is futile because it puts a man on the defensive, and usually makes him strive to justify himself. Criticism is dangerous, because it wounds a man’s precious pride, hurts his sense of importance, and arouses his resentment.”
Dale Carnegie reminds us, “When dealing with people, let us
remember we are not dealing with creatures of logic. We are dealing with
creatures of emotion, creatures bristling with prejudices and motivated by
pride and vanity.” He warns that “criticism is a dangerous spark – a
spark that is liable to cause an explosion in the powder magazine of pride – an
explosion that sometimes hastens death.”
Carnegie gave concrete examples to clarify his statements. “General Leonard Wood was criticized and not allowed to go with the army to France. That blow to his pride probably shortened his life. Bitter criticism drove Thomas Chatterton, the English poet, to suicide.”
The famed Greek mathematician and philosopher, Pythagoras, once said, “A wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from a sword for the latter affects only the body, the former affects the spirit.”
In the Bible, James the brother and disciple of Jesus Christ, issues a warning about the evil poison that emerges from the tongue. He describes people who use their tongues in praising and blessing God, then turn around to use their tongues to speak evil of one another. “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:9-10)
We cannot use our tongues to bad-mouth and curse our brethren, then continue ‘business as usual’ with our vertical relationships with God. The Bible clearly says that such behavior is characteristic of hypocrites. “The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor.” (Proverbs 11:9)
The greatest teacher of all times, our Lord Jesus Christ, reveals to us that words are extremely important. In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus exclaims, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.”
Carnegie gave concrete examples to clarify his statements. “General Leonard Wood was criticized and not allowed to go with the army to France. That blow to his pride probably shortened his life. Bitter criticism drove Thomas Chatterton, the English poet, to suicide.”
The famed Greek mathematician and philosopher, Pythagoras, once said, “A wound from a tongue is worse than a wound from a sword for the latter affects only the body, the former affects the spirit.”
In the Bible, James the brother and disciple of Jesus Christ, issues a warning about the evil poison that emerges from the tongue. He describes people who use their tongues in praising and blessing God, then turn around to use their tongues to speak evil of one another. “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:9-10)
We cannot use our tongues to bad-mouth and curse our brethren, then continue ‘business as usual’ with our vertical relationships with God. The Bible clearly says that such behavior is characteristic of hypocrites. “The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor.” (Proverbs 11:9)
The greatest teacher of all times, our Lord Jesus Christ, reveals to us that words are extremely important. In Matthew 12:36-37, Jesus exclaims, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.”
One of the hallmarks of true believers is their ability to positively
influence the atmosphere and their associations with others. Genuine words are potentially as sweet as
honey; thoughtless words carry definite stings, more painful than any wasp,
hornet, or bee.
Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed, and please
(above all else) MAKE SURE YOU ARE READY TO MEET OUR SOON COMING KING.
Maranatha!
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