Ssshh

Ssshh(by Mizaj4christ)

1Samuel 25:3-39- Photo Credit to Adam Bouska model my friend R Saunders

Friday 11th February 2011

Every one loves it -teenagers on the playground to the teachers in the staff room .
Coworkers round the water fountain at lunch. The  Old ladies down the post office to Brickies at the pub
and yes even the elder to the church choir director.

Anyone can plummet and fall prey to its precarious magnetism. Addicts who have worshipped at this altar can

testify that once in the throes of it. It is downright nigh on impossible to break free of its shackles.
What am I on about? No its not crack cocaine, Alcohol, pornography, cigarettes nor is it gambling. 
It does endanger the soul of hell fire. I am referring to the repeatedly,
notoriously ignored but highly addictive activity we all love to indulge in – GOSSIP.
I believe that one of the overwhelming appeals of gossip
is that it’s illicit – which only makes us want to indulge in it further

What is amazing to me is that majority of the time half of it ain’t even true. Does it stop us?
The gossip that gets passed around is never of the good, positive, faith -building variety.
It’s always, negative,degrading and soul destroying. Like stories of
how Shanayne and Darius are shacked up and are not even married or how
Brother David drinks shandy and doesn’t even believe in SOP.
How Sister Gloria has six children by five different men, two of which were married at the time.

It’s never the kind that is inspiring like. How sister Mary became a successful doctor
by putting herself through evening classes and holding down not one but three
jobs and how her mother had bakesales to raise funds for her education.
Nobody wants to hear how after all the obstacles, divorce; racism etc Elroy has faced has managed
to start his own business. Or how John Bob now owns three properties
when he came to England with only the shirt on his back and
had to stay in rat-infested, leaking, mildew , flats and stale bread in the cupboard.

It is rather seldom that I hear someone say something like
“hey we were all talking about how much we admire how you took
a chance ,stepped out in faith and started home schooling your children
and gave up a career to do so inline with your Degree “ You Go Girl”

 I usually  hear of something along  the lines of “eh, do you know Rachel
thinks you think women should not use contraception and have ten or more children?”
or “Taiwo  told me you think your children should be your servants  “ Or your children won’t be socialised”

Which means that Rachel, Taiwo and all the rest had taken precious time out of
their lives to discuss my shortcomings. How typical actually if they read the
whole magazine they would have taken note of the article on how to be frugal and
save money In a recession or the one on Different ways to keep YOUR children quiet in church. Not that most of the writers believe in allowing God to Plan their families.

The other day in the staff canteen at work, This lady was talking about another
colleagues multiple marriages and character flaws. The other women at
the table were really going to town and adding their two pence. the more she talked,
the more I felt the familiar pull to ‘unearth’ more information and join in with my own negative input.
I knew immediately this was the flesh and the old me would have jumped in all gong ho’ . What was the difference?
I heard a voice in me say a verse from Romans

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,
and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof
Romans 13:14

 

My food just lost its taste and I felt the Holy Spirit just used me to say something along the lines of
“You shouldn’t be talking behind other peoples back.”  She defended herself by saying it was all true.
I was like regardless I’m not even her biggest fan but this is wrong on so many levels.Then I gracefully exited the room.
The thing is though she wasn’t a Christian she was of another faith.
Not that it matters either way as its in us to do this , Christian and non-christian alike. After all the bible says

But why dost thou judge thy brother?
or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?
for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
Romans 14 :10

This woman drove me to my bible that very night and all the next day to see what God’s Word says
About this little tiny organ in our mouths  for a little refresher course.
A prime example of the words we use is in 1samuel 25 3-39 The story of Abigail and her husband Nabal .
They both used their tongue in a different way Abigail was gracious and saved her household,
the other the husband was rude and ungracious and almost destroyed his household.
Emphasis supplied by Inclaire S

Examining The Evidence
Here is what I found in the book of  Psalms
Keep thy tongue from evil,
and thy lips from speaking guile.
Psalms 34:13

 

The tongue deviseth mischiefs;
like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.
Psalm 52:2

 

Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit.
Psalm 50:19

There are loads more in the book of Psalms.

Question : Did you know YOU could sin with your tongue? Whose responsibility  is it to keep it in check?

Answer:

I said, I will take heed to my ways,
that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle,
while the wicked is before me.
Psalms 39:1

 

Now there are those who like to focus on the drunks,fornicators and homosexuals and point the finger
using Romans 1 , but let us look at the other usual suspects of SINS lined up and
listed here and look carefully at the Penalty at the end to ascertain our Christian duty and the seriousness of the situation.

28   And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over
to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

29   Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness,
maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

30   Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

31   Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

32   Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of
DEATH, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
Romans 1: 28-32

 

The ones in bold are some of the things are done with the TONGUE and I am sure one could make a case for more.

Permit me for but a moment as I stray a little from the topic.( With it being National Family Week in the UK and the Pagan Festival of Valentines)
As a WIFE we should NOT be telling tales to our girlfriends (especially if she is single) or mothers
about our husband’s sexual prowess or his character flaws. The other thing how a tongue can damage our marriages
I dealt with in my post on biblical duties of a wife but I feel its of utmost importance to repeat it.

“It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop,
than with a brawling woman and in a wide house.” -Proverbs 25:24)

“  A continual dropping in a very rainy day and
a contentious woman are alike.” Proverbs 27:15

NAGGING MUST STOP!

Let us speak sweet words to the nearest and dearest to us,  our husband and children.
We wouldn’t dare speak in that tone  to our friends or neighbours. This next text demonstrates this

“A soft answer turneth away wrath:
but grievous words stir up anger. ”
proverbs 15:1

I have a challenge for you and for myself, Let us instead do with our tongue what God purposes for it.We should use our mouth to ….

 

And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness
and of thy praise all the day long.

Psalms 35:28

Here is a poem I wrote do enjoy if you haven’t seen it already on FB

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngaXJ03Kp50

Now my brother –in-christ Paul Lee hooked me up with the perfect
conclusion on this matter. I never get tired of How the Holy Spirit works, Its oh so AMAZING. No coincidences! Its from UCB daily devotional

Be Careful What You Say (3) 09 Feb 2011
”The lips of the godly speak helpful words…’‘ Proverbs 10:32
A World War II poster reads, ‘Careless words cost lives’.
So when you hear something negative about someone,
ask yourself four questions. First, is it true? ‘
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour’
(Exodus 20:16 NKJV). That’s one of the Ten Commandments,
not the ten suggestions! Until you’re certain it’s true, say nothing.
Wait; time always reveals the truth. Second, is it confidential?
Did you hear it as a result of someone else’s having broken a confidence?
If you speak it, will you be contributing to the violation of a confidence? Remember,

‘Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets,
but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered’
(Proverbs 11:13 ESV).

Your usefulness to God requires that you don’t sacrifice your integrity
by betraying trust. Third, is it helpful? Will it tear others down or build them up?
Satan is devoted to pulling down, discouraging and defeating; don’t be his accomplice.
‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for
building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen’
(Ephesians 4:29 NIV).

Will it be beneficial and encouraging to those who hear it?
Finally, is it necessary? Stop and ask yourself, ‘What do others and the cause of Christ gain by my saying it,
or lose by my not saying it?’
Always keep this in mind: you’re more likely to regret the things you said than the things you didn’t.
‘A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards’
(Proverbs 29:11 KJV).

Be wise; be careful what you say.

Reference: http://www.ucb.co.uk/index.cfm?itemid=88

Here is a another poem I wrote when I was 16 partly inspired by something I said that was taken out of context, Do enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X77tfaa8xQE