True or False?

“As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport? … As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife… Burning lips and a wicked heart are like a potsherd covered with silver dross. He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, and layeth up deceit within him; When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart. Whose hatred is covered by deceit, his wickedness shall be shewed before the whole congregation” (Prov. 26:18,19,21,23-26). This is quite a passage of sobering godly wisdom here from the book of Proverbs. So what is the message? Let’s ask Jesus: “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” (Mat. 5:37). So let’s say what we mean, and let’s mean the right things. The passage from Proverbs is warning against trying to say the wrong things the ‘right’ way. That is otherwise known as deceit as our text passage shows clearly. If someone is speaking with something other than sincerity and honesty, it really doesn’t matter how 'fair’ they disguise it to be; it’s still just plain old treachery and deceit. The Spirit of Christ prophesied a thousand years ahead of time of Judas with these words: “The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords” (Psm., 55:21).

It all comes down to what we’re conditioning our hearts to be. If we “keep [our] hearts with all diligence,” then the “issues of life” that proceed forth from it will be good (Prov. 4:23). If we are not “purifying [our] hearts even as he is pure,” then our words will betray us, whether we mask them with smoothness or not (I Jn. 3:3). Jesus said it quite simply this way: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Lk. 6:45). Jesus died and rose again so that we could have the power of God that alone purifies the heart from sin (Acts 1:8; Acts 15:8,9). Those who believe on him receive that power, and those who love him continue to purify themselves by that same power, which is his Spirit (Jn. 7:37-39). Whether we are doing this or not will certainly show up in our words. It’s no wonder that Jesus told us the following, “That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Mat. 12:36,37). So for repetition’s sake allow me to say once more: There is no 'right’ way to say the wrong thing. It is very clear in the sight of God what is behind our words, and neither is it hidden from those who are pure. Amen.