Words — both good and not so good

1 Samuel 14:1–52, James 3:1–12, Psalm 119:97–120

From a child, most of us learn the hard lesson that our words can get us into trouble. Those who haven’t learned talk too much. Those who have learned are often very quiet people, sometimes to the extent that they are silent when they should speak up.

Our words can work for good, but they can also be harmful. In today’s readings, the Lord prompts me to think of both. First, He reminds me that when He puts an idea on my heart, I should verbalize it. I might have no idea of what will happen, but speaking the thoughts of God can have long-term ramifications.

The example is Saul’s son Jonathan. He was with his father in battle against the Philistines but went out from the rest of the army accompanied by his armor-bearer.

Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few.” And his armor-bearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Do as you wish. Behold, I am with you heart and soul.” (1 Samuel 14:6–7)

Had Jonathan thought about this before opening his mouth, he may have reconsidered. The Philistine army was large, certainly more than enough to destroy two young men. Yet he said the words, and his companion agreed. They took on at least ten times more than themselves, defeated them, and their bravery motivated the rest of the army. When Saul’s soldiers got into the fray, many of Israel’s enemies were defeated that day — all because Jonathan was not afraid to say what was on his heart, and then follow through by doing it.

Yet words can also get us into trouble. If God is not in it, our grand plans can defeat us. James warns against speaking when it is better to remain quiet.

“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.” (James 3:5–10)

It’s easy to see the difference. Jonathan spoke from a God-fearing heart, but the people James talks about have no fear of God or much of anything else.

One thing God has been teaching me for many years (I am a slow learner), is to listen to Him before I open my mouth, then to say only what He commands me to say, nothing more and nothing less. In Jonathan’s case, those words were from the Lord, identical to the testimony of the psalmist: “Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.” (Psalm 119:98) Both listened for God, heard Him speak, and were able to defeat the enemy.

A few verses later, the psalmist gives an added thought. He says, “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.” (Psalm 119:100–101) Hearing God speak means even young people can be wise if they listen to God and do what He says.

As for me, sometimes the Lord tells me to speak up, and sometimes He tells me to shut up. Learning to control my words means learning to listen to His words — and then obeying what He says.

Loving God means…

The two great commandments tell us to love God with all our mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. It seems simple, but the very nature of love defies and defines our success.

This love that the Bible speaks of is a sacrificial love. It is embodied in Christ who loved us in humility, giving up His own life that we could be forgiven and receive eternal life. As a basically selfish creature, that kind of love is more than a challenge; it is impossible.

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Revelation 12:10–11)

The “accuser” is Satan. The book of Job tells how he comes before God and tattles on His servants. Job was a godly man, yet Satan said that Job would never trust God if God was always good to him. The rest of the book shows that the faith that God gives is more than adequate. Job didn’t like what happened to him and complained, but his faith held firm.

Job conquered all that Satan threw at him and at God in accusation because of those three things in Revelation 12:11. While the Lamb, Jesus Christ had not yet shed His blood, the Old Testament sacrifices were a picture or type that pointed to Him. As the OT people of faith offered a slain animal on the altar of God, they were demonstrating faith in the promise of God to send a Messiah. It was this promise that Job believed, and by it and the blood of the coming Lamb, he held fast.

Job also declared his faith. His “friends” accused him too, saying he must have done something wrong to deserve all his losses and sufferings. However, Job insisted he was not being punished for sin. He said,

Though he slay me, I will hope in him… (Job 13:15) For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God. (Job 19:25–26)

His testimony of faith remained, even as he lost his family, possessions, health, and nearly his life. He did not give up, even at the threat of death, and by doing so, he conquered the enemy and the accusations of his “friends.”

Not all people of faith have the same experiences. Some do die. I heard this week that about 200 Christians around the world lose their lives each day because of their faith. That is one martyr every seven minutes.

Would I? If authorities came to my door and demanded that I must renounce Christ or be shot, what would I do? This is the ultimate sacrifice, yet not the only sacrifice that I can make to show my love for God. A more “rubber hits the road” example is simply giving up what I want to do to obey what He wants me to do, usually some call to serve someone else.

Getting even more specific, sacrificial love holds its tongue rather than boasting, lying, gossiping or saying unkind words. It goes the extra mile to help those in need, giving time, money, or other resources without complaint, but joyfully. Sacrificial love even thinks good thoughts…

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Philippians 4:8)

… giving up sinful ideas, inner accusations, arrogance, or judgmental attitudes toward others.

How can such love be possible? Christ stopped at nothing, was willing to be made flesh, to be tempted, deserted, persecuted, and to die on a cross, and I struggle at times to speak a kind word or go out of my way to bless someone else.

To be like Jesus, I must rely on Him having a faith like Job. I knowing that Jesus lives in my heart to supply all my need, but I must be so taken by His sufferings for me, that He kindles a flame in me, a love that breaks forth in my words and ways to the praise of His glory.

And I must always remember that He said, “Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25)

Obedience speaks

Actions speak louder than words. Is that true? Ask the wife whose husband declares love but never buys her gifts and often stays out late at nights. Ask the person who has heard promises yet never seen them carried out by the promise maker. 

In Christianity, saying one thing and doing another is called hypocrisy by those observing. At best, God calls it disobedience. He tells me if I love Him, I will keep His commandments. When I read and really understand what He is saying but do not do it, how can I say that I love Him?

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:22–25)

Day after day, year after year, I come to my Bible in the morning and read the words of God. Much of the time He gives me instruction for living. The older I get, the more I realize how much I have looked intently, but at the least have forgotten what I look like. Sometimes I remember, but walk away without letting it change how I behave. While I do not sympathize with those called hypocrites, I understand this behavior.

Excuses are easy... Sin is too strong. Life is too filled with temptation. I’m only human. (Jesus was a perfect human and always obeyed.) Instead of making excuses, God asks me to do something. Instead of talking (or writing) about all the things that He teaches me, He would rather that I show by my actions that I get it, that I respond to Him with more than words.

Obedience is not as easy. It calls for admitting and abandoning pride. It also involves sacrifice, perhaps time, money, other resources. If I obey God, I have to give up what I’d planned doing. It might also mean going against the approval of family and friends, or society in general. Obedience could mean acting in ways that the rest of the world thinks are foolish or a waste of time and energy. It could mean losing face.

Jesus said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (Luke 11:28) God said the same thing to Joshua…

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. (Joshua 1:8)

The odd thing about disobedience is that those who ignore God often do it because they want ‘prosperity’ and ‘success’ — the very thing promised by God for carefully doing all that He says. 

My conclusion? Too often, I am a very foolish person.

Identified by words and actions

In 1995, my sister and her husband went with us to Scotland for a Leslie Clan reunion. We ate supper in a small nearby inn the night before the event started. Another couple sat opposite and the four of us began a whispered debate about which one was the Leslie. From their appearance, it could have been either. Finally my sister went over and asked them. She came back laughing; they were brother and sister, both Leslies.

In this situation, appearance was the identifying factor. In fact, it replayed the next few days as we mingled with more than 500 people who looked like members of our immediate family.

Other than having a joyful countenance, appearance has little to do with how Christians should be identified. Some say it should be by our words. Others say it should be by the way we act. Obviously something should be noticed, something that makes us different from those around us.

For a whole year they (Barnabas and Saul/Paul) met with the church and taught a great many people. And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians. (Acts 11:26)

What made the people of Antioch call these disciples by this title? The broad answer might be that they proclaimed themselves followers of Christ. Yet when anyone ‘follows’ someone else, the implication is that that follower begins to act like their leader, even as they do what their leader tells them.

 The context of this verse gives more clues. It says that Barnabas “was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And a great many people were added to the Lord.” (Acts 11:24) This indicates that Christians ought to be good, even in the eyes of those who do not follow Jesus. The presence of the Holy Spirit should also be obvious, as is openness about their faith. Very few can bear the title ‘Christian’ if they have never declared themselves to be one. One more clue is that disciples of Jesus Christ tend to be involved in the reproduction of more disciples.

A few verses later describe another action, how we should respond to difficulties experienced by other Christians.

And one of them named Agabus stood up and foretold by the Spirit that there would be a great famine over all the world (this took place in the days of Claudius). So the disciples determined, every one according to his ability, to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. (Acts 11:28–30)

Prophetic utterances aside, when the church in Judea faced a severe famine, the Christians in Antioch took a collection and sent it to them. One major evidence of being a Christian is that we take care of one another. This is why the Bible speaks much of unity and loving one another; a church spat shamefully destroys the evidence.

From the context then, being identified as a Christian involves both words and deeds. A ‘good’ person may or may not believe in Jesus, but no one knows unless that person shares their faith with others, particularly when the result is that others also believe.

Yet speaking is hollow and worthless if it is not accompanied by action. I must ‘walk the talk’ or my words have no weight. Without suitable action to go with my claims, instead of earning the title of Christian, I would be called a hypocrite. Being a Christian should be plain for others to see, in both what I say and what I do.

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Lord, being Your child means that I should show evidence of that relationship. Today, help me talk and behave in a manner that is both worthy and descriptive of a disciple who loves and follows You.

Love: a Show and Tell opportunity

Last night’s rerun of Criminal Minds had a shocking ending. One of the female characters was asked out for dinner by an attractive man she met in a restaurant when she helped him with a computer problem. He talked nicely, smiled, seemed genuine, but at the last moment of the show, he said, “I’ve been thinking about doing this all night,” then pulled out a gun and shot her.

The more cynical of us quickly think she had to be naive. What person in their right mind would fall for mere words? Yet most of us have done it. Words are a main communication tool. In fact, a chart in an article about communication shows that the deepest levels of communication happen in the closest relationships and involve telling one another how much we care about them.

Yet close relationships involve more than words. The deepest relationships involve actions, even sacrifices. The more my husband and I give of ourselves to one another, the closer we become. This cannot be one-sided, neither should it be wordless, at least as long as we are able to use words. However, even if I were mute, I’m sure actions speak louder.

When I apply this to my relationship with God, I am both convicted and overjoyed. The conviction regards my slowness to tell God how much I love Him. I’m like a taciturn spouse, or maybe like Peter in John 21:17 when Jesus “said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved . . . and he said to Him, ‘Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.’” As in any relationship, expressing feelings deepens it, while assumptions put in wedges. God wants us to tell Him how we feel.

But Jesus also said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments. . . . He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will by loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him” (John 14:15, 21). Obedience, which often involves sacrifice of some kind or another, is my other expression of love for God. I’m not always quick to do that either.

The other side of this is the joy of hearing God say and show how much He loves me. One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 31:3, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.’” He repeats this over and over throughout Scripture.

Also, while I fit into the larger picture of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world. . . .” the last part of that verse is His sacrificial proof. He sent His Son to die for me so I will not perish but have eternal life. Romans 8:31-39 again declares loud and clear this great demonstration of His love:

“What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: ‘For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

God says so and proves that He loves me. My reading today from God is Enough ends with this: “Love gives all and must have all in return. The wishes of one become binding obligations to the other, and the deepest desire of each heart is that it may know every secret wish or longing of the other, in order that it may fly on the wings of the wind to gratify it.”

Again, conviction and joy. I fall short in reciprocation, but as I realize that God gives all and deeply desires to gratify every longing of my heart, I am drawn closer to Him.

The next logical thing is to tell Him— and show Him—how I feel.