The Gift of speech

As the man speaketh, so is he

“A false witness shall not be unpunished, and [he that] speaketh lies shall perish.” – Proverbs 19:9

Communication is essential to humanity. As from creation, God blessed humanity with the gift of speech, an ability to communicate effectively and efficient.

In the beginning, all was wonderful. After the fall of humanity, speech remained unchanged. There was one language, and it wasn’t difficult for human beings to communicate one to another up until the period of the tower of Babel. Then humanity started to speak in different tongues that we hear in our midst today.

Nothing but the truth

Therefore, it is of greater importance for each and every present truth believer to know and to practice the proper use of the gift of speech. To learn how to properly articulate words, to speak in season. Keeping in mind that by our tongues we either build or destroy.

“The very fact that the one hundred and forty-four thousand are to have no guile in their mouths is not only an evidence that they must proclaim the truth and nothing but the truth, but that their language must be free from all unbecoming words.  And, if we are to be among this elect company of God’s children, it will be necessary for us to weed out of our speech all the sly innuendos, covert insinuation, expletives, and meaningless words and phrases.” –Education, p. 236.

We are told that our language should be so “pure” that the most sensitive could not truthfully say that there is the slightest intimation of impropriety; so kind that the most timid would have no fear; so truthful that no doubt could possibly arise in the minds of our hearers as to our veracity.

As the Lord has called us to prepare for the seal in our foreheads, He has also called us to purify our speech and to be without guile in our mouths, and thus be the “servants of God” in the time of the “loud cry.”

Conclusion

In conclusion, “The workman for God should make earnest efforts to become a representative of Christ, discarding all uncomely gestures and uncouth speech. He should endeavor to use correct language.  There is a large class who are careless in the way they speak, yet by careful, painstaking attention, these may become representatives of the truth.  Every day they should make advancement.  They should not detract from their usefulness and influence by cherishing defects of manner, tone, or language.  Common, cheap expressions should be replaced by sound, pure words.  By constant watchfulness and earnest discipline, the Christian youth may keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile.” – Counsels to Teachers, p. 238.

“[He that] speaketh truth showeth forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit. There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise [is] health.” – Proverbs 12:17-18.