Let There Be Thanksgiving

We have entered into my favorite month, probably because the cool weather always reminds me of the beginning of basketball season and Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. One of the first things that come to mind when I think of thanksgiving is Ephesians 5:4, Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Thanksgiving should be the leaning of our soul, attitude of our heart, and fruit of our mouth. There is a definite and consistent relationship throughout scripture between the heart and the mouth. That relationship is best summarized, I think, in Luke 6:45, The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.Therefore, the opposite is true, an evil or undisciplined tongue is an indicator of a wicked attitude of heart, and a sinful leaning of the soul.

Mark Ross says, “Scriptural warnings about the control of our tongues are many and urgent. Yet for all their importance, they are too often disregarded by otherwise sincere and devoted Christians.”¹ One example of how this ought to apply to our lives is how we speak in a judgmental way toward one another. Matthew 7:1-2 tells us that Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.This is not a command to not judge, it is a command to judge according to the measure, or standard, by which you wish to be judged. It is judgment according to the golden rule. Matthew 7:12 sums up the whole law and prophets by this “ethic of reciprocity,” So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Jesus does this because there are only two measures by which we can be judged; the measure of grace according to Christ's righteousness, or the measure of works according to Christ righteousness. As Ross explains, “One would think that such a warning would encourage us toward the most generous view of others that could be taken.” However, this is often not the case. We want grace for ourselves, and judgement for others. “Even within the church, we adopt the patterns of the world and allow our speech toward one another to be corrupted.”²

This is why it is such a serious matter when students speak in a judgmental or hateful way toward one another, or when they are disrespectful to their parents. Or when parents provoke your children to anger, or model judgmental behavior toward one another. Matthew 5:21-22 has made clear, You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. With this kind of warning, I find it hard to believe that we take such chances with our speech. James 1:26 gets to the point,  If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. He goes on to develop the point in James 3:3-10, comparing the tongue to a bit in a horses mouth and the rudder of a ship, 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! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

Ross concludes, “Bridling our tongue will require a change in our hearts as well s an effort to sift what comes out of our mouths.” That is why law and command can not control our tongue. “It is love that proves most effective: love for our neighbor, love for our enemies, love for the household of God especially.” I would add that a love for God is foundational because it supposes that by grace He has first loved us. “Then our words will be pleasing in the sight of our great God and Savior.”³

1Ross, Mark E., Guarding Our Speech, Tabletalk; October 2012, Page 62.

2Ibid, 62.

3Ibid, 63.