Have you ever been in one of those situations where you’re talking with someone and they share something that was said about a mutual friend and probably shouldn’t be repeated or even spoken in the first place but they think it is behind closed doors so it doesn’t matter, and worse yet then they tell you not to say anything?
That recently just happened to me at work.  In a twinkle of the eye I had about hundred thoughts of how I should respond.  They ranged from one extreme, do nothing, to the other, get in a verbal brawl over what just happened.  I am proud to say I gently landed somewhere in between.  My nature certainly leans toward the edges – verbal brawling or do nothing.

I calmly responded, “You know I will never utter a word, but that won’t matter because a bird will tell him.”    My co-worker’s response was that crazy crooked head look like”Huh?!?”  I went on to share that King Solomon, the wisest man ever, told us not to curse behind closed doors for a bird may share what you’ve said (Ecclesiastes 10:20).  It was a little awkward but it was for the best.

What if it is true, even though it may not be nice, that’s not a curse is it?  The Bible even tells us to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15).  Check out Romans 4:19 where it describes the patriarch Abraham who “faced the fact that his body was as good as dead” yet did not waver in his faith, believing God that he would have a son.  He faced the fact yet he understood the truth was different.  You see just because something may be a fact that alone does not make it truth.  What God says is truth.  Jesus is the way, truth, and the life.  What God created is good, and that includes the “idiot” you may be working with.

I have learned that we resonate a spiritual aroma much like a flower emanates a physical fragrance.  That aroma attracts things to it.  The aroma of Christ – blessing and love – attracts life and all the good things God has for us.  The aroma of death – cursing and hate – attracts darkness.  Think of it like spiritual bad breath.  You do not want what’s attracted to that.

Our tongue has the power of life and death and we are encouraged to speak life (Proverbs 18:21).   The truth of this scripture doesn’t stop just because you are behind closed doors.  It doesn’t stop having power because you filter what you say and when you say it.  For if it is in your heart then it will overflow out of your mouth (Luke 6:45).  The society we live in teaches us to bite our tongue and not say anything, but then when we get with like-minded people or we are behind closed doors and speak whatever we feel.  The sad part here is acting like this attracts more discord, more trouble – the very things you don’t want.  The next strange step in our thought process is that those “idiots” need to change then I will be happy, then life would be good.  Talk about a lie.  Thinking people have to think like you is seeking conformity not unity.  Diverse thoughts and viewpoints can co-exist providing they are set on a foundation of love.  People needing to conform to your view is complete and utter bondage.  Now your peace is dependent upon somebody else changing?  That is a terrible choice.  Your peace is dependent upon you, your life is dependent upon you.  Too many people choose to be a slave by wrongly thinking others determine their happiness.

What’s wrong with biting your tongue?  Isn’t that the right thing to do?  Not cursing is the right thing to do, but not cursing until later is still wrong.  I used to go around, knowing my words have power, not saying things that may be true but aren’t life.  I would do good for a time, but as time went on it was if those words were fermenting inside of me like grapes being turned into wine.  The pressure would just grow until I burst and let out what I was trying to contain.  I would do it behind closed doors so what did it matter?  It mattered.  Actually this is all tied to forgiveness.  If you think someone has done something wrong or hurt you or opposes your viewpoint then the temptation to get in a verbal brawl is right there.  If you jump up and down on that temptation like pushing a jack-in-the-box back down you find at some point it just jumps right back out.  That is because you are outwardly trying to do the right thing, but inwardly you still know you’re right and have not forgiven them.  When you forgive it actually sets you free.  It is not your job to hold the world accountable, let God do that.  It is your job to speak words of life and walk in life abundantly showing the goodness of God to a dark world.  This can only be done from the inside out.  First forgive then watch what comes out of your mouth.

Your freedom depends on it!  The good things of life will be drawn to you supernaturally.  People will notice the goodness of God by watching you live life.