Every Careless Word

On the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.

A Tree Is Known by Its Fruit --Matthew 12:33-37

"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."

In this day and age, people around the world have probably the greatest ability and opportunity to communicate to others than ever before.

Think about it. With our current technology, we can digitally communicate our thoughts to people we do not even know, via a myriad of electronic devices. All this is possible via the Internet, the World Wide Web (www) of mankind.

"Oh what a tangled web we weave
if at first we seek to deceive!"

I heard that old saying long before the world wide web of communication came into being, but oh how true and applicable it is today! Especially when we consider that more people than ever before believe they can say anything and everything about whoever and/or whatever they feel like with impunity. But is that wise?

Many proverbs emphasize the importance of sound speech and that silence is better than unhealthy speech (e.g., Proverbs 10:11; Proverbs 15:4; Proverbs 17:27-28).

SOURCE: The IVP Bible Background Commentary - New Testament.

That deals with the practical side of the issue, but pause and consider the fact that on the day of judgment we will be held accountable for EVERY careless word... wow! To even attempt to contemplate the number of times I have spoken "carelessly" is overwhelming. To utter something without regard as to its effect upon myself and others clearly brings home how thoughtlessly I have been living my life. And for those who are reading this and thinking to themselves, "I'm good, as I am well aware of how I speak about and toward others", I would say, "Think again!"

A Tree and Its Fruit

“A good tree does not bear corrupt fruit, nor does a corrupt tree bear good fruit. Each tree is known by its own fruit. Men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a wild bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bears what is good, and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bears what is evil. For of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. --Luke 6:43-45

So what's the solution? Seems to me there is only one solution. It is the solution that Jesus offered time and again during his time here on earth - and the same solution he continues to offer today - "Abide in me and I in you." (John 15:4) As long as we sincerely and diligently seek to abide in him, there is little room for little else.

Wouldn't you agree?