Op-Ed: A time to speak and a time to be silent
LIVING ON PURPOSE
By Dr. Billy Holland
As Christians, we have been given spiritual insight about the power of words and how critical it is to be careful and watch what we say. In the third chapter of James, we read about the potential dangers of the tongue. It discusses how we can use bits in the mouths of horses to control them and how a rudder on a ship is used to manage direction, but controlling the tongue is different because it is associated with self-discipline from within. “For every kind of beast, and of birds, and serpents, and of creatures in the sea is tamed and has been tamed of mankind; but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” James 3:7-8. This chapter continues with the observation that the tongue, although a relatively small part of our bodies, can cause significant damage. So, if humans cannot control their tongues, who can? It’s all about surrendering our will to God. In all situations, our words are to be filtered through a personal awareness of sin and a passionate desire to walk in God’s character.
There is an old saying, “What is down in the well, will come up in the bucket”, which means that what we say reveals the thoughts and intentions of our hearts. We are reminded that someone is always listening. A conscientious servant of Christ not only strives to eliminate negative conversations but prays and meditates on what God is telling them to say. Have you ever heard, “It’s better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt?” This is probably a paraphrase from Proverbs 17:28: “Even a fool when he holds his peace is counted as wise, and he that closes his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” More conversation is not always better; in fact, sometimes we are to say nothing. The key is asking Him for wisdom, as the privilege of being used as His messenger comes with a solemn responsibility. I pray that I can continue to grow and develop my sensitivity to God’s voice and that I will have the faith and courage to relay His message. It’s essential that God’s people become aware that we are judged (good and bad) for the verbal seeds we are planting.
I recall a true story about a young high school student who had attended a church camp one summer and accepted Christ as his Savior. When school started back in the fall, he really wanted to be a faithful Christian and was excited to tell others about his spiritual experience. He was a member of the football team, and just before a game, he sensed that God wanted him to share his testimony with the entire team. Of course, he was nervous and, being overwhelmed with intimidation, he buckled under the pressure and decided to stay silent. They went out and won the game, and as they returned to the locker room whooping and hollering, he was again feeling a strong urgency to testify about how Jesus had forgiven and saved him from his sins. He motioned to the coach and privately asked if he could say something. Through the noise and chaos, the coach leaned into his ear and replied, “You have two minutes!”
With a booming voice, the coach told everyone to listen up for a minute as the boy stood on one of the benches and began to tell his story. It all seemed like a blur as he enthusiastically explained about hearing the gospel, becoming convicted, repenting, and surrendering his life to Jesus. He actually quoted John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” When he finished speaking, the team went back to their celebrating, and he heard no more about it. 20 years later, he received a phone call from one of the players who was on that team. The man said he was listening that night and had always remembered those heartfelt words. He went on to talk about how that sincere testimony had played a huge part in his becoming a follower of Christ. He just wanted to call and say how much he respected and appreciated a brave young man who stood up in a smelly locker room on a hot Friday night, and shared that Jesus loves us so much, He suffered and died on a cross to save us.
Dr. Holland is an ordained and licensed minister, chaplain, teacher, and author. Read more about the Christian life at billyhollandministries.com