One day after attending a church service in London, I spent several hours going through bookshops looking for a bible translation called The Living Bible. There were no Amazon or Internet editions in those days, so I just had to go from shop to shop.
The reason I was looking so determinedly for this translation was because of something that had been preached that morning about the meaning of Matthew 12:35 (based on this translation):
"A good man's speech reveals the rich treasures within him. An evil-hearted man is filled with venom, and his speech reveals it."
Verse 36, shows us that "words" can be "good or evil treasure," and they come out of the way you speak or express yourself on any issue.
“. . .The most important part of your life is actually the ability to use words. Words define your life; words define your values. Words define your personality. You are no better than your words; you are no greater than your words. The character of your words is the character of your personality: watch your words.
No man ever got better than his or her words. Your life is the expression, the manifestation, the reflection, of your words. It does not take long to know who you are. All you have to do is talk for a few minutes; this is because your words locate you; they tell where you are at. . ."
This is an extract from the church sermon that led me to search for that bible translation.
How do you speak?
Would others describe you as "evil-hearted" or "good-hearted" because of the choice of words that you use when you speak?
Ever since I read this amazing scripture, I've trained myself never to use bad language. I can say everything I ever need to say without piling on insults, and without denigrating the other person.
The Tentmaker saw a man's heart like a vessel, containing words that are then poured out when the person speaks. That is why King Solomon warned, "Guard what comes out of your heart (through your mouth) because the heart contains the "issues of life" (my paraphrase).
Friends, it matters how you speak. It matters how you express yourself. And this has nothing to do with your religion. You will always get better results if you speak nicely to others, even when you disagree with them totally.
My prayer for you is that you may have a peaceful and prosperous 2016.
# It's your time, seize it!
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