“Out of the Abundance of the Heart the Mouth Speaketh.”
By Edwin R. Jones
How little we realize the effect of our words upon ourselves and others! A soft, gentle answer has great power to turn away wrath; while grievous, irritable words stir up anger and strife. Our words reveal what is in the heart. Our heart is the great fountain of which our words are the stream. It has been said that we cannot tell what is in a man’s heart; but if we may judge of a tree by its fruit, if we can judge of a fountain by its stream, so also may we judge of a man’s heart by the words which he speaks; “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matt. 12 : 34. It is not natural for a man whose heart is filled with evil to speak good words, any more than it is for figs to grow on thistles, or grapes on thorns. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.” Matt. 12 : 35. How quickly do the unchaste words of the licentious man tell of the loathsome corruption of his heart. How constantly do the words of the man of the world remind us that his heart is filled with love for earthly things and a desire to obtain them. But how different it is with the man whose heart is filled with love to God, and whose affections are set on the world to come. His conversation is in Heaven, from whence he looks for the appearing of his Saviour. He will speak of the love and mercy of God, and the glories of his kingdom. How often do we carelessly speak words to no profit, idle words, little realizing that a record is kept of them all, and that we shall have to give a strict account of them in the great Judgment day. Finally, our justification or condemnation will be according to the words we have spoken. Our Saviour has said “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give an account thereof in the day of Judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” If we could only feel the force of these words, how often and how earnestly would we pray, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” But how may we speak acceptable words? How may we order our conversation aright, so that we may see the salvation of God? Make the tree good, and his fruit will be good. Cleanse the fountain, and the stream will be pure. “Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Ps. 51 : 10.