T.H.I.N.K.
By
Chris C.
Have you ever ‘stuck your foot in your mouth’?
Most people have at one time or another. Have you ever said something hurtful to
someone else to make yourself feel good? Most people have done that too, most
likely regretting it afterwards. Do you just talk or say meaningless things for
the sake of talking? Some people just have a tendency to fill in dead space but
all you hear is blah, blah, blah.
I came across this concept, T.H.I.N.K., a few years ago. I was watching
an intervention show about women who needed help in their lives with different
problems. One of the exercises that a counselor presented was this:
T=
true
Is
what you are about to say true?
H=
helpful
Is
what you are about to say helpful?
I=inspiring
Is
what you are about to say inspiring?
N=necessary
Is
what you are about to say necessary?
K=kind
Is
what you are about to say kind?
The old saying, THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK, is really a scriptural
concept created by Yahweh!
In James 1: 19 it states, “Everyone
should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry…” We
must stop and think before saying something that might hurt someone, or cause
someone to stumble. Too much
conversation about others can lead to gossiping which is a sin to Yahweh. We
need to lift each other up, help when we are able to, and remain silent when the
time is appropriate also. In 1 Peter
3: 1-2 it states, “Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any
of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the
behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your
lives.” Another old
saying, ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS, is so true!
2 Tim 2:14-17 says, “…Warn
them before Elohim against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only
ruins those who listen. Do your best
to present yourself to Elohim as one approved, a workman who does not need to be
ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Avoid unrighteous chatter, because those who indulge in it will become
more and more unrighteous. Their teaching will spread like gangrene…”
This is where ‘necessary’ comes to mind. We will not only be accountable for
our thoughts and actions, but also our words. Yahshua our Mashiach lets us know
this in Matthew 12:36-37 which states, “But
I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every
careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by
your words you will be condemned." This is a serious matter
considering that women speak about 25,000 words in a day and men speak about
10,000-15,000. Out of those words,
which conversations are of any meaning? If we only spoke what was true, helpful,
inspiring, necessary, and kind, I bet that number would go down a great deal and
we would have less to say unless we use
our words to edify one another, spread Yahweh’s truth, pray for one another,
confess our sins, sing songs to praise Yahweh, teach our children, become a good
listener and watch for the fruit of the Spirit! 1 Cor 2:12-14 states, “This
is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by
the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”
There are many more scriptures that refer to this topic and I encourage
you to do a more in-depth study on this matter.
So stop and THINK about what you are going to say to someone the next
time you have a conversation and whatever you do glorify Yahweh who deserves all
honor and praise from your lips.
Do
not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but
only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,
that it may benefit those who listen.