Afraid of the Tongue

Matthew 12:34-37 says, “Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil.  I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

This passage struck me hard this morning and I wish it needed more interpretation than it does. Jesus says that we reveal our hearts through our speech. He says that we will be held accountable for every careless word we speak. Every time I read this passage I can’t help but think that I am in trouble. I know I have spoken many words without thought ever since I learned how to speak. My next thought is normally something like, “It is impossible to try to control everything I say and I know I am not the most careless speaker in the world, so I should not worry about this text.” This time, I asked the Lord to help me not to dismiss His words but to ask how believing these words should change my life.  

                We know that Jesus is telling the truth when he says that our words reveal our hearts even if we have not thought of it in those terms before. My son cannot yet speak, and almost every day I look forward to those words finally coming out. I want him to be able to tell me what all of those funny faces he makes mean. I am excited to find out who he is and what is going on in his heart and head through his words. I do not like to think of myself being revealed in the same way I am excited for him to reveal himself.

                Because we know the heart is revealed by our words, we know how to make sure our words are not careless. If we keep our heart in line with God’s word and submitted to Christ, than our words will reveal that. It is not an impossible thing to be held accountable for our words, but it is hard to ask ourselves the questions, “What do my words say about my heart?” I wonder if my words say that my heart is angry, sad, negative, joy-filled, Christ filled, needy, covetous, greedy, generous,  or something else? Do my words reveal a part of my heart that I have not submitted to God?

                God, please help me to submit every part of my heart to you. Help me to be filled with your joy and love and share that through my words. Help me to recognize when my words are revealing a part of my heart that is not submitted to you and help me to do something about it rather than be afraid to face the truth. Amen.