A mouthful

“[T] he tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire.”

Watching the movie “Every Child is Special”, I learned that in the Solomon Islands, if the natives wanted a tree to die, all they did was surround and hurl curses at it. True enough, the tree withers a couple of days later.

This reflection stemmed from my observation of status updates in social media. Unfortunately, put-downs and bullying have become commonplace as we enter the e-world era. We’ve heard of suicides committed by teenagers because of social labeling- slut, loser, weird, nutcase- yet the proliferation of cuss words and verbal discouragement continues.

Ryan, remember that death and life is in the power of the tongue. The world was created by words, “Let there be light”, “Let there be animals”, etc. Words are that powerful!

James 3:6 tells us that the tongue is a fire, setting a whole course of life. Ryan, now that you know that, you have to be very careful with what comes out of your mouth. Remember how a fish is caught? You will know a person’s heart by what his mouth speaks.

Weigh every word that comes out of your mouth (or in this case, your fingers). Is it the truth? Without blemish of a lie. Is it kind? Because more often than not, the “how-you-said-it” is more important than the words itself. True and kind. It should always be both.

The next filter is necessity. Judge the necessity of words not by your need to say it by the need of a person to hear it. “Eating pakbet for lunch.” Hmmm…who needs to hear that?

Also, be very careful about using the excuse, “Joke lang gani!” Ephesians 5:4 admonishes, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking which are out of place xxx.” Cruel jokes are not kind, not true, and definitely not necessary.

Be very careful about gossip parading as truth as well. “It’s not gossip if it’s the truth” is never an excuse. “Whoever speaks the truth gives honest evidence xxx.” (Proverbs 12: 17). Ryan, you learned this from law school! The truth oftentimes doesn’t matter if there is no evidence to support it. Judge your intentions! If your intention is merely to pass along the information to a person who has no business knowing the same, it’s not your business to share. You have to talk directly to the person concerned. If you really have to bark, bark at the right tree.

Ryan, you know you have been gifted and cursed with sarcasm, irony, wit and a considerable verbal arsenal. God will hold you accountable on how you use it. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29). I repeat, according to their needs!

Tall order Ryan? You’ve already received the “Most Active” ribbon in kindergarten. Maybe it’s time to earn the “Most Behaved.”

STORYAHEEEE!!! (Sorry, can’t help it. Sigh….)

Capsule: Now Ryan! Is it the truth? Is it kind? Is it necessary? ‘Pag sure oi!