CHEAP TALK | AdventAI

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Apr 11, 1878

CHEAP TALK.

The truthfulness of the very common expression that “talk is cheap,” might seem unquestionable to the careless and unobserving. But to individuals whose consciences have not lost their discriminative power, and whose religious experience is not mere automatic operations, words are not so valueless.

There is no such thing as cheap talk, yet it is an undisputable fact that there is very much of idle and trifling conversation, and frivolous talk. There is no account opened in the heavenly Ledger to cheap talk. “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of Judgment.” The final audit will show that words spoken hastily or ever so thoughtlessly were caught by the attentive angelic ear, and the ready pen of the heavenly accountant registered every word. Can talk be considered cheap, when by our words we are condemned or justified? A man’s words furnish a criterion by which to judge of his spiritual condition. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. James, in speaking of the uses of the tongue, uses convincing language, and employs strong figures to impress upon his readers the restraint which it is necessary to place upon the unruly member.

The words of a person professing to be a follower of Christ, who exhorts others to holiness, yet manifests none of the fruits of the Spirit in his life, may, in a certain sense, be considered cheap; yet James employs a fitter term, “If any man among you seem to be religious and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, that man’s religion is vain.” All his exhortations fall powerless upon the ear and are echoless in the heart of the listener.

David, in considering the character of a citizen of Zion, asks the pertinent question, “Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?” and receives this comprehensive answer, “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth [not with his lips, notice, but] in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoreth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” Although vows have been taken and agreements entered into that afterward prove not a success financially, the individual is not released. God requires that he should maintain honesty, uprightness, and integrity of character, notwithstanding he has sworn to his own hurt. Here is a test for the selfish man, that he forfeit not his word and honor.

God would have men speak words of soberness and truth. “Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”

“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.”