Why You Must Be Careful with Your Words

Daily Devotional – Tuesday, November 19, 2024
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)

The use of an intelligible and dynamic language distinguishes human beings from animals Speech helps to create meaning and to share messages. Words, too, have the ability to impair our relationship with God, hence the need to be careful with our speech.

Out of the Abundance of the Heart…

In Matthew 12, Jesus explains the connection between our thoughts and our words. Speech is a product of thoughts. An evil person uses foul speech, while the language of an upright person is full of grace.

Then Christ makes a statement that should make every human being think twice before speaking. He says, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36). This is a clear warning against careless speech.

Why You Must Be Careful with Your Words

Consider how often we gossip and insult others, and some of the jokes we peddle. We even use pulpits to share unsavory jests, unfair criticism, and employ language that is far from holy. Sadly, many a soul has left church never to return because of careless words spoken by professed Christians.

As we look forward to the day of reckoning, when we shall account for every idle word, how prayerful and diligent should we be in choosing our words? Let us heed James’s counsel: “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak.” (James 1:19).

Prayer
Holy Spirit, come and live in my heart, that I may not speak careless words that hurt You and other people.