Weight Scale

"The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil." Proverbs 15:28

The definition of "weigh your words" from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary is - to carefully think about everything you are going to say before you say it.

When the pin is pulled, Mr. Grenade is not our friend. ~ U.S. Marine Corps

Words can never be recalled. We must remember to think before we speak. We must carefully weigh the cost of speaking our thoughts randomly and without evaluating the possible outcome.

Here is a compilation of some reasons as to why you should always weigh your words before speaking, from the world's perspective. (http://www.dgreetings.com/weigh-your-words.html)

* A single wrong word can do such a great damage, which can never be amended by a hundred beautiful words.
* Please understand that it is something different to speak out what one feels but an altogether different thing to speak without even understanding the consequences and the pain, which can be caused due to the harsh words.
* Remember, words once spoken cannot be taken back. They will remain in the other person's mind and would keep on causing him or her hurt, no matter how much you try to undo the damages done.
* Words spoken in haste can sometimes convey the wrong version of your ideas to the other person.
* Sometimes in our anger we end up saying the words, which we never intended to say, thereby inflicting great pain.
* We often kill our relationships with our own hands by speaking wrong words, words spoken from our head but not from our heart.

Now, here are the reasons from God's perspective why we must weigh our words.

* "Reckless words pierce like a sword..." (Proverbs 12:18)
* "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin." (Proverbs 13:3)
* "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity." (Proverbs 21:23)
* "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight reign on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26)

So, you may ask how do I weigh my words in a day and age of very difficult people and living situations. Or, maybe you say - but you don't know who I live with or deal with on a daily basis. I may not, but God does and He will give you the ability to weigh your words and speak words that heal rather than destroy. Below are some key ideas and thoughts to ponder as you strive to weigh your words.

1. Make your words timely and appropriate: Proverbs 15:1, 23; 25:11; 20:3
2. Do not take too seriously the harsh words of others: Ecc. 7:21-22
3. Speak the Truth: Psalm 34:13, Proverbs 19:5, 9; 12:22
4. Say what people need to hear, not just what they want: Proverbs 14:25; 16:13; 29:5; 28:23; 27:5, 6)
5. Use words that edify: Proverbs 12:25; 15:4; 16:24, Romans 14:19, 2 Cor. 10:8; 12:19, I Thess. 5:11, Eph. 4:29-32


"Weigh your words carefully...they are heavier than you think!" I read that simple statement and it made a whole lot of sense to me. As we just read, God's Word has a lot to say about the importance of proper speech. As Christian women, wives, and mothers we have many opportunities to use our words as an example of God's love in this world. Your words, my words, reflect God to others - what reflection of God do your words bring? Do some of your words negate the words of encouragement, hope, and love that you have said? Spreading the love of God is difficult enough without having to do "damage control" from the words either we have said or words they have heard from other believers. Let us do good to all, let us speak the gospel at all times.

Lynne Jahns

Lynne Jahns
Christian Counselor
Director, KESWICK Institute of Biblical Studies

DIGGING DEEPER
James 4:4-6
Warning Against Worldliness
4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"?
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."