Using words with diligence
Matt 22:15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap Jesus in his words.
Matt 22:22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So, they left him and went away.
In this chapter, Pharisees are looking to trap Jesus legally to arrest him and kill him. So, they were acting like good people and asking Jesus about paying taxes/tithes to the temple and the Roman government. Jesus gave a great answer by telling them to show a denarius. It has Caesar’s inscription. So, he answered them, pay to Caesar what is Caesar’s and pay to God what is God’s.
Jesus’ words are very apt, to the point and extremely knowledgeable and diligent.
We also see in the book of Nehemiah, how he started to use words very carefully and diligently to convince many people to rebuild Jerusalem, starting from the King, his fellow brothers, priests, local religious leaders who were opposing, other kingdoms who were trying to destroy him, etc. He did not tell his plans directly to anyone directly of what he is going to do.
Nehemiah 2:12 I set out during the night with a few others. I had not told anyone what my God had put in my heart to do for Jerusalem.
We will all need to learn to use words very carefully and diligently to accomplish certain tasks.
Let us look at a few verses from the Bible about how we use words/tongue to bring success/failure or life/death into our lives or into others’ lives.
Proverbs 18:21: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.
James 3:5-6: “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
Proverbs 21:23: Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 17.28 Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.
We can generate spiritual fruits through our words/lips.
Hebrews 13:15 The fruit of our lips is giving thanks to His name.
Prayer
Our father in heaven, give us wisdom to use our words diligently and carefully so that we will give life and build. In Jesus name we ask. Amen.
Sol. Theodore Mohanty