Words – for good or bad – spring from our hearts

Ever pull an Alec Baldwin?

Me neither.

Nonetheless, he’s got me thinking: Don’t we all sometimes use words that wound?

Haven’t we all winced in regret at the permanence of words poorly chosen?

For those of you who haven’t seen a grocery store news rack for a while, let’s get you caught up. The actor recently made worldwide headlines for leaving his 11-year-old daughter an obscenity-laced voice mail, calling her a “rude, thoughtless little pig.”

Baldwin’s angry words punctuate a painful and protracted child-custody battle with his ex-wife, actress Kim Basinger. That’s a context, not an excuse. Nothing justifies hurling hurtful words at a child; Baldwin’s public apology rings about as hollow as his marriage vows.

But let’s focus on the only words for which we’ll give an answer one day: our own.

Jesus issues this startling caution: “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” (Matthew 12:36 – NIV)

Think about that. What matters to the Lord is not only whether our words are bad, in the sense that they’re cruel or untrue. He desires for us to speak words that are actually worth some good.

There’s no neutral in the world of words. They either build others up, or tear them down.

When Jesus spoke to people, his words were always true, often gentle.

Luke 4:22 says that people actually marveled at the gracious words that came from the Lord’s mouth. People no doubt marveled at his message. But even Jesus’ words themselves were gracious; they reflected a divine influence.

Yes, the Lord scolded hypocrites and moneychangers. Even then, his words were truthful and reflected God’s best for those who heard them.

That’s the idea behind the Apostle Paul’s encouragement to Christians in Ephesus: “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” (Ephesians 4:29 – NLT)

Here’s a bit of a confession: Sometimes I speak before weighing the impact of my words.

I can still remember conversations I’ve had with people years ago – friends, co-workers, parents – and wish I could take back some poorly chosen words. Can you relate to that?

I’m guessing Baldwin would have chosen different words had he first considered the fallout from his childish diatribe.

But that’s just it. Words are like water. Erasing the damage done by them – once they’ve left our mouths – is like trying to round up all the water rushing over Spokane Falls this time of year. It just can’t be done.

Only when we go to the source of the water, Lake Coeur d’Alene, and dam it up, is containment possible. Just ask the people who live on the lakeshore.

The Bible says our hearts are the true source of our words. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are what we say:

“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)

Keeping harmful words under wraps is admirable, but it really isn’t the Christian’s goal. Solomon spells the goal out fairly simply: “Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.” (Proverbs 18:4 – NLT)

Rather than looking for some strategy to contain, or cut off, words we’ll later regret, we’re better off focusing on our hearts. Only a heart yielded to Christ can be a source of pure, uplifting, truthful words.

This matter of the heart, I suppose, is what makes Baldwin’s fiery tongue so horrifying. He’s caused us wonder, “What kind of heart spews such words?”

But before we rush to pious judgment, friends, let us look into our own hearts and consider the words of Jesus: “… Let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone.” (John 8:7 – NLT)