“A SUGGESTED NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION” January 2018

           Between December and January, it becomes necessary for me to take a moment to recognize and thank the faithful members of this ministry. Many of you I have never met or even spoken with on the telephone. But during the year, some of you have contributed with love offerings to help sustain this process of getting the word out. Others have sent greeting cards and letters with words of encouragement and a promise to keep me in your prayers. I am deeply indebted to every one of you; and I pray the very God of peace will keep you and yours in “perfect peace.”

           Thank you for being there on the Lord’s side! It is customary for people all over this land to join the throng of those who announce their New Year’s Resolution. As we step across the threshold of a new year, I am sure the practice will continue. It could be that some embrace the practice merely for fun; while others doubtless see it as an opportune time to do something personal for themselves. The practice has become visible and even endearing. Many on television and radio, spend time assembling huge numbers of folks who are willing to publicly announce their particular resolution (or resolutions.) 

 First and second among these resolutions are usually losing weight, and quit smoking. But writing to Christian families, I would like to introduce you to something that is more dynamic and beneficial to you as an individual, and to your entire family. The secret that I am about to share is centered in the realm of verbal communication; especially how we share our thoughts, and how we articulate our true feelings. Among professional marriage counselors, the culprit that they always identify in troubled marriages, “is the failure to communicate.” When there is nothing left to talk about in a marriage, it is headed for the rocks. The truth is that we are obligated to express our feelings from one day to another; and for the most part, much depends on how we say it, and even the opportune time to speak.

 It is required between employers and employees; teachers and students, parents and children. Along the way, we soon discover that what we say, and the way we say it, has profound results—negative or positive. The scriptures are full of templates that we can use to structure our lives—our marriages—parents and children relationships; if we spend a little time to sort them out and put them to work and impact our lives. As we proceed, we will quickly notice that even the creation itself came into being by “THE WORD OF THE LORD.” More on this later!

 On that basis, I will say up front that this letter is not going to be about “revelations of deeper end-time truths.” We are going to take slow and deliberate steps through the scriptures to unearth winning formulas that are at our fingertips; waiting to be harvested and applied in practical terms to our daily lives. The bible is like a journey man’s kit: it contains every formula (tools) that we need to succeed and to bless others. On the path to perfection, we are given all that’s needed; as if posted at different intervals along the path forward.

           The only wise God has designed it so that we can always monitor our path and growth in him. We are given “check points” where we can take personal inventory to ascertain whether we are losing altitude, being grounded in a melancholy—stoic life, unmovable one way or another. Let us lay the scriptural foundation for this study. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body…

 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:2-6.

           If indeed, the tongue can set on fire the course of nature, we ought to pay more attention on how we use it. For instance, Jesus said: “Behold I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy word thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12: 36, 37. Why is this so? It is because no word is meant to be idle! Words are creative in design and purpose. Here is an example of how the creative word works, even when we act and speak innocently.

            If your son comes home with a poor grade from school, or he constantly fail to do his chores at home, and you talk down to him; for instance, you constantly say to him: “you will be nothing more than a bum. You are a dummy with no impetus or inkling to learn. You will end up digging ditches or shining shoes down at the bus station (some people do these things for a living.) But your intention in your approach is to shame your son into stirring up his mind and possible urge him into action to pay more attention in school and to be handy and helpful around the house. But in reality, your son walks away hurt, ashamed, and lost what little “self-worth” that he had. He mumbles to himself: “Dad said I won’t amount to anything: that I am a looser and will end up digging ditches.

           Okay! So, I won’t be anything! It is like saying, you get what you ask for. All the while you were talking down to your son, you were unwittingly creating that which you thought was so bad for your son. Here is a little nugget that will help us along!

           There was this energetic pastor with a fine group of young people. Everything seemed fine and growth among the youths was noticeable. They were vibrant and teachable, enthused with the work of the ministry. Without planning to upset the equilibrium of the bible studies, the pastor decided to conduct a series of studies on “the works of the flesh.” Before long, the young people began to go out on dates, the movies, and other social activities that heretofore were not seen among his group. Before the studies on the works of the flesh, there were no desire to go after those things. It was not a part of their mindset: but the study awakened the desires that pertained to the works of the flesh.

           Since every word is meant to be a creative word, we must be always conscious that throughout the day, and every contact we have with others, as we speak, we are creating—be it positive or negative. Let us bear in mind—up front where our thoughts begin; that the tongue is capable to set on fire the course of nature. Wars can be created and fought with an onslaught of many lives being lost, all because of words that were reckless, violent in nature, and set on the fires of hell. We are given examples of how God used his word. Watch this classic example! “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11: 3. The account of God’s word being on display are catalogued in the biblical narrative upon which we can stand; and which principle we can utilize for our own benefit on a personal basis. Again, we read: “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the hosts of them by the breath of his mouth. For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33: 6, 9.

           Sometimes we rehearse the creation story by saying: “Let there be—and there was.” Thus, from Genesis, through the Psalms and into Hebrews, there are examples of the creative power of the spoken word. Because words are powerful and creative—in the positive and in the negative, we are given specific guidelines on how to effectively use or apply our words. We have heard it said over and over again that “chat is cheap” but that belongs to a secular world that is void of the wisdom of God and the Spirit of God.  As Jesus said in Matthew 12: 36, no word is meant to be idle because we are constantly creating as we speak. In fact, a wise man wrote long ago: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18: 21. So, what can we conclude out of that statement? It stands to reason that the use of our tongue produces life and death. It depends on how we use our tongue! In other words, “watch what you say” because it caters to life or to death.

           As we said earlier, our use of words in a marriage is of vital importance; and when speaking tapers off, and verbal exchanges are no more, the end is possibly in sight. Sometimes we need to take a step back in order to correct what was said. (It did not come out right. Not the way we meant it to be.) Do you understand that? In a conversation between married couples and even between parents and children, sometimes we say something (in a hurry) and in a flash, we quickly realize that it did not come out the way we wanted it to sound. We quickly make corrections and explain what was meant in the first place. Sometimes we do this with a hug or a soft hand upon the shoulder. There are times when we should not speak or try to “talk things over.” In certain situations, we need to disengage, walk away and allow time to do its work in lowering the temperature, and even allow temper to ease and cool heads to win the day.

           We read on Proverbs 15: 23: “A word spoken in due season, how good is it?”

           Notice they key here! In due season! So we don’t run off at the mouth over every little incident or misunderstanding.   I like this one! “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 16: 23, 24. Beloved hearts! I would dare say that these basic instructions are of full value to us, if we desire to be wise and educated in the Divine Principles outlined in God’s Word. We are shown the work of the heart of the wise. It does not allow for us running off at the mouth without care full deliberation. The heart of the wise takes time to dissect the issues and to foresee what the results are likely to be, before uttering a single word. Out of this process of deliberation a pleasant word will no doubt be spoken, and it will be as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.

           We are given another bit of advice by the wise man of long ago! “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Again, we are given appropriate guidelines in how we should order our lives by how we use our tongue. It is not only that we watch what we say, but also when to say it. As we indicated above, there are times to speak and thrash things out in a positive manner. But there are also times to walk away to the neutral corner and allow things “to cool off” because in the heat of the moment when tempers are hot, and self-control has taken wings; it is not the time to sit and “reason” things out. There is no REASON in that moment! Scripture teaches us the power of the tongue! They outlined in black and white how the Creator utilized the power of his word. What he did, and how he did it, are left as sacred scrolls in the biblical archives; and they are left at our disposal. To the end, that we as workmen should not be ashamed or come up lacking in any good thing. These principles are at our finger tips, and are there for the taking; so that we can be well equipped to resist and overcome various adversities. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word. So again we see the importance of speaking and making the right choice of words in what we say.

           Along with the power of our word, or because of it, we are admonished in scripture to be careful what we say and to what, or whom our words are directed. A wise man wrote back in ancient times saying: “My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth. Proverbs 6: 1, 2. And again: “The wicked is snared by the transgression of his lips: but the just shall come out of trouble. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment. Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.” Proverbs 12: 13, 14, 18, 19, 22.

           Let us bear in mind the fact that words are designed to be creative, and as Jesus remarked, indeed, every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. The universe is always reproducing! Present life in the entire universe evolves along its ordered course: then it burns itself out, falters and dies; but in the same process new life is born. It is much like the wild fires that we see burning in forests in Australia or parts of California. Those fires are part of a process that produces new life, as the old under-growth is burned to ashes, making way for new life to erupt and it is as if a brand-new forest is born. Whether we are Christians or not, the principle of the creative word is still valid and still functional. Families can raise better children, and pastors can produce more vibrant and mature congregations, when the “creative word” is practiced. I often say from the pulpit: “I have to first BE what I want you to BE.” Saying the right thing, in the right way, and even at the right time, will no doubt produce results that one can appreciate and use as building blocks to happy and productive lives.

           Paul’s letter to Titus contained the following instructions: “Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man.” Titus 3:1, 2. It is so easy to speak evil of others.

           Quite often, we do not initiate the conversation: but we join in, and along the way we nod in agreement with those who are directing the conversation. But let us not forget James’ description of the power of the tongue. “The tongue (yours and mine) is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind. But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3: 6-8. As we ponder again the issues of the tongue, and observe how hard it is to bring it under control, the scriptures serve as instruments where with we can win. If we learn to exercise control over what we say, to whom we say it, and when we say it, we are on our way to success. This lesson would immensely benefit our elected politicians.