Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Tongues Can Be Good Or Evil


"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise." -- Proverbs 10:19

Don't you just love the co-worker who is so busy telling you how to do your job that he can't do his own job? Yeah, I knew you'd understand. We've all had the opportunity to work with such a person.

My tongue is one of my greatest liabilities. I know that. Every day -- literally -- I ask God to hold my tongue because I know I am incapable of doing that by myself. It's almost instinctive. Someone says something and I want to spurt out a response. Before I think. Not that I wouldn't mean what I would say. It's just that sometimes words only cause damage.

Today was a day that kept God busy. Thankfully, I might add. I couldn't have made it without Him. I'm fortunate that as an artist I don't generally work in offices or deal with co-workers. Family, yes, and customers but it's not the same as co-workers I see everyday. I did that for years. Recently I have, however, been helping with customers at the Toyota dealership. I've worked there as a driver for years so it's a comfortable fit. I know everyone and they know me. Besides, it's only a few hours a day and it's a temporary gig. So, it's just not important what other people think. Except, of course, the customers and they seem to like me just fine.

I believe customers come first. I talk to them and try to help them. The general manager is happy. The sales manager is happy. One person isn't so happy. He thinks I should stay in my little coffee and donut box, minding my place, while others do the important stuff. I don't work that way. It's sort of like not telling someone about Jesus because "it's the pastor's job." When you work for a business, it's everyone's job to help customers. But it makes him uncomfortable that I go that extra mile. I know it's not about me. It's about him. He isn't willing to do the little extras and he doesn't want anyone else to do it either. He's afraid it'll make him look bad. I think it makes him feel just a little guilty.

Isn't that how it is with us? We don't want to hear someone speak openly about their faith, to give God credit with their tongue for the good He has done in their lives. We much prefer to keep it to ourselves or maybe share it with our Sunday school class. We don't want to go "public" and we'd prefer it if everyone else did the same. It makes us squirm a little less.

On the other hand, we don't mind sharing our feelings about other things. The minute we get aggravated with a co-worker, we share that. We complain about our bosses. We fuss at the waitress because we're on a tight time schedule and the food seems to take forever. We tell other people how to live, how to dress, how to behave -- all the while we use our own tongues to criticize and hurt and trounce on others.

A tongue is a powerful weapon. We can use it for good or evil. Ask God for guidance and deliverance. And remember that sometimes holding your tongue -- or asking God to hold it for you -- is far better than wielding it for criticism destruction.