Your words may trap you.
Being in ministry for over 20 years I’ve heard many stories about many people. I’ve counseled and been counseled. I’ve told secrets and been told secrets. I’ve heard some pretty crazy things. I’ve always been one to keep people’s garbage to myself though. A lot of people would be pretty embarrassed with the dirt I know about them but I choose to keep my mouth shut. After going through a few tumultuous seasons of my own and having folks who were closest to me, completely betray me, I’ve learned a great lesson. Keep yo trap shut.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 ESV
And to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you,
Minding our business is what the bible clearly instructs us to do but there’s always a little judge and attorney within us that wants to punish people for their sins. The problem with this is that God always makes it something that bites us in our own rear. I’ve seen it time and time again. When people have accused others of either the truth or lies, and have then levied on them consequences, typically, the punishment they’ve doled out comes back to them in some way. I wish it didn’t happen but God’s word is so clear when it comes to us trying to be judge, jury, and executioner.
Matthew 7:1-5 NIV
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Jesus is clear about the judgement that comes on us. The same judgement we use is the same judgement we reap. The same treatment we give others is the same treatment we receive. The same grace we give (OR DON’T GIVE) is the same we reap!
Galatians 6:7 NIV
Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.
What we must realize is that when we are so free to speak to others about someone else’s downfall we are hurting the very thing Jesus died for. People. People are what we hurt with our words, that’s why are words are a trap; they will trap us and trap others.
James 3:5-6 NIV
Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
For our own personal safety it might be best if we reserve our judgements and consequences to ourself and to the Lord. I guess the old saying still rings true, “If you can’t say nuthin’ nice, don’t say nuthin’ at all.”
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- Can you remember a time you were afflicted?
- What was your response?
- Are there people you need to repent to for gossip or sin against?
Please leave your thoughts if you feel led and let’s continue the conversation! May God bless you!
