Cheap Talk Needs to Stop!

We are living in a world of cheap talk. Politicians spew cheap lies to gain a vote. Sales people overrate their products to make a sale. Way too many pastors and preachers have cheapened the gospel message to prevent people from being offended. Everywhere you look, cheap talk is flowing!

I often find myself reciting these words from a song that was popular back in the 80s: “You’re the only Jesus some may ever see. You’re the only words of life some may ever read.” It often acted as a reminder to me of the importance of right words and right actions in my everyday world. It helped me to focus on what the right thing to say is even when my mind is telling me to tear ‘em up with harsh, unnecessary words.

Another little saying that goes around occasionally is: “You can talk the talk but can you walk the walk?” A good thought if implemented into our lives. But, we find ourselves flippantly spouting off these and similar sayings without truly considering the depth and meaning reflected in them—without considering whether our own lives are reflecting the true intent. The WWJD (What would Jesus do?) phenomenon of a few years back was based upon an awesome premise but soon became so flippantly overused that it lost most, if not all, of its meaning and impact and, sadly, has become a societal joke.

What am I saying to you today? Talk can be so cheap and yet painful. Cheap words flow out of the mouths of fools like water from a fountain. I believe it is vital that you understand these words of Jesus: “What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45b NLT). The Proverbs writer put it this way: “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking; the mouth of the wicked overflows with evil words” (Proverbs 15:28 NLT).

So, what can we learn from this? Flippant, foolish talk is a reflection of what is truly in the heart. We can learn a great deal more by considering all Jesus said: “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart” (Luke 6:45 NLT).

Good things flow out of the mouth of the individual who has a good heart; whereas, evil flows from an evil heart. How often do you think before you speak? How often do you consider what the impact of what you are about to say may have on those around you—positive or negative? How often do you look back and wish you had thought it out better before you let it spew out?

The Psalmist put it out there this way: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14 NLT). Eliminate your life’s cheap talk by asking GOD to give you a clean heart which will produce clean thoughts and clean conversation that ultimately please GOD.

Scripture Reading: “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions” (Matthew 7:18-20 NLT).

Prayer: Father in heaven, too often I find myself talking without thinking. My mouth seems to have a mind of its own and often spews things which shouldn’t be coming out. Help me, LORD, to consider my words before they fly from my lips. Help me to choose my words carefully so that what I say may encourage others rather than discourage them. Help me, LORD, to glorify You with all that I say and all that I do carefully considering how Jesus would respond in my every situation of life. May my heart be pure so my words may be pure…in Jesus’ name…AMEN!