Being in trucking, it's commonplace to hear trash talk. Sad but true. Not all truckers are like this though. I'm sure this isn't the only industry, but one I'm partial to. I believe true believers are genuinely set apart and their conversations reiterate this.
With that said, consider Jesus words here...
Matthew 12:33-37
33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
As a tree is known by its fruit, so our conversations reveal much about who we are, the condition of our hearts and prove who we are living for.
Think on these things that James chapter 3 tells us. (I hope you make time to read it in its entirety.)
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
I love how James puts it in a nutshell.
"Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?" (Vs. 11)
Ok, so our hearts contents and inner ambitions are made known to those around us by the words we speak. If we claim to follow Christ and are truly His, does our conversations back up this claim? Can He be seen in the everyday things?
Let us be mindful of Job. Many of us are familiar with his story. If not, I encourage you to embark on that journey.
Willing to ask yourself regularly these things.
"Is there iniquity in my tongue? cannot my taste discern perverse things?" Job 6:30
What goes in does come out. Are we being renewed daily in the Word of God, flushing out trash and consuming those living waters and bread of life. (Romans 12:2
Can we make this same declaration, honestly?
"My lips shall not speak wickedness, nor my tongue utter deceit." Job 27:4
Since James made it clear that we cannot tame our own tongues completely, are we willing to ask the Holy Spirit for His help?
"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Psalm 34:14
"Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." Psalm 141:3
If we ask Him, He will do it!
A few things here to consider as we go about each day. Are we doing what is necessary to present Christ and His kingdom or is our own best interest at heart in our discussions with others around us?
Truth is, the Word of God speaks much on the topic. This could go on and on, but I hope this helps us all to be mindful and to strive word by word to represent the One we claim, Christ Jesus.
