Mealtime Confessions

Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. (Proverbs 17:27-28 ESV). Someone has said: "Many things are opened by mistake, but none so frequently as the mouth." The following story is a great illustration of how our tongue can turn from good to bad quickly. A man sat down to supper with his family. As usual, he said grace, thanking God for the food, for the hands that prepared it, and for the source of all life. As the meal proceeded, the man began to complain. The bread was not fresh enough, he grumbled. The cheese was too sharp. And the coffee was hotter and bitterer than he preferred. After a while, his young daughter looked at him, perplexed. "Dad," she asked, "do you think God heard the grace today?" He answered confidently, "Of course." Then she asked, "And do you think God heard what you said about the coffee, the cheese, and the bread?" Not so confidently, he answered, "Why, yes, I believe so." The little girl concluded, "Then which do you think God believed, Dad?" The man usually had a quick response to any question his daughter asked. Now, he sat in stunned silence. The man realized that his mealtime prayer had become a well-practiced habit in which he said words that made him look and feel good. He also saw how his real attitude, as revealed by the spontaneous words in his complaints, was not what he wanted, or even liked. An interesting thing about the tongue is that it can be helpful, or destructive. The tongue can encourage, or discourage. It can spread love, or spew forth venom. The difference is not in the tongue itself. The difference is in one's heart. Many hidden diseases of the body are detected when doctors look into the mouth. Hidden diseases of the spirit and mind are revealed by what comes out of the mouth. You see, people get a picture of which you really are by the way you use your tongue. Fortunately, you can frame the content of that picture. Our reading today is so clear at this point. Solomon understood this principle very well. Evaluate the words you use and your tone of voice. What picture are you painting of yourself with the things that come out of your mouth? But don't stop with the question of your appearance. Consider what your words and tone of voice says about your spiritual and mental conditions. Do the things that come out of your mouth reflect God's values and standards? Do they give evidence of a strong relationship with Jesus Christ? If they don't, why not? There is only one way that our tongue can reflect the character and presence of Christ within our lives. That is through the gracious things that come from it. If you are not living up to the standards set by Jesus in your speech, commit yourself to a new way of speaking today! Bless others with all that you say.