Russ' Ramblings

Matthew 12:36

If idle hands are the workshop of the devil, idle words must be the tools. I know that James records the warning about the dangers of the tongue, but we seem to have a fairly easy time disregarding warnings. (Admit it, you have touched the paint even after being warned that it is not dry.) So, warnings about troubles controlling the human tongue often get lost.

Let me tell on myself a bit. I have never been one to use any profanity. It is not a part of my vocabulary. Mother used to remind us that it is the language of the ignorant. I guess that thought has stuck with me. But profanity is only one of the problems of the tongue. Because I searched to find an apt description for the unacceptable behavior I often saw in “other” people, I arrived at the word, “Moron”. Everywhere I looked I could find someone to attach to that name. Other drivers were the main recipient. Of course, I never called anyone that name face to face. It was always from the safety within a closed car, or whispered so only immediate company could recognize it. But that was a part of the problem. There were people who hear me. My wife heard me. My children would sometimes hear me. Still, I had a sense of justification, as I was not using some profane term, and the person never knew. Then my father had to stick his thoughts into the fray. He casually observed that the word “moron” comes from the same root as the word “fool”. They have pretty much the same meaning. He then pointed to Jesus’ warning about assigning someone the title of “You fool”. I began to see the jeopardy of my own soul.

Words without much thought can be a danger to the best and the least of us. Jesus reminds us that every idle word is called to account. So a light is shed on the seemingly innocuous things that might be said by any of us. Words without value have no place in our minds much less in our mouths.

There is no doubt that intentional words will always be a trouble to us. Still watch the idle ones.