In the last two devotionals, we looked at how God’s reputation is what we are to regard as more fundamental than our own, since we have been created in His Name. So, this transforms all our relationships to be had in light of honouring God’s reputation, for which we are His ambassadors. Quite important to honouring God and to relationships are our conversations. I touched on some of the nature of our conversations in the last devotional, but I hope to add more clarity here.
I intentionally held back on talking about a thief of our time from Puritan Richard Baxter, until the time came for this subject on redeeming conversations, since I believe that this is one that we often overlook, if we ever think of it at all. However, so much time goes into our conversations, that redeeming them can stand to cover a large portion of our lives for God. Pay close attention to what Baxter teaches here, because this is essential for us to understand about our conversations. Baxter said,
Thief VI. Another time-wasting sin, is idle talk: what abundance of precious time does this consume. Pay attention to most men’s discourse when they are sitting together, and you shall hear how little of it is any better than silence (and if not better, it is worse). So full are those persons of vanity who are empty, even to silence, of anything that is good, that they can find and feed a discourse of nothing, many hours and days together; and as they think, that such fecundity and floridness of style deserves acceptance, if not applause. I have marvelled often at some wordy preachers, with how little a matter they can handsomely fill up an hour! But one would wonder more to hear people fill up, not an hour, but a great part of the day, and of their lives, and that without any study at all, and without any holy and substantial subject, with words, which if you should write them all down and peruse them, you would find that the sum and conclusion of them is nothing. How self-applaudingly and pleasingly they can extempore talk idly and of nothing a great part of their lives! I have heard many of them marvel at a poor unlearned Christian, that can pray extemporaneously many hours together in a very good order and well-composed words: but are they not to be more marvelled at, that can very handsomely talk of nothing ten times as long, with greater copiousness, and without repetitions, and that extemporaneously, when they do not have that variety of great commanding subjects to be the matter of their speech? I tell you, when time must be reviewed, the consumption of so much idle talk, will appear to have been no such venial sin, as empty, careless sinners now imagine (Richard Baxter, Body of Divinity, 164).
Have we ever considered our conversations in this way, seeing just how much time we waste of the short time that we have on earth? The sooner we realize that idle conversation is sinful, the better. What does the Bible teach on this? The Bible teaches, 2 Timothy 2:16 says, “But avoid worthless, empty talk, since that will lead to more and more ungodliness” (2 Tim. 2:16), “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Eph. 4:29), “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent” (Prov. 10:19), and “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matt. 12:36-37). Notice here that the purpose of conversation is for “building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” The “building up” here refers to growing and encouraging faith in believers. With regard to unbelievers, our conversation is to be sanctified (set-apart) from vain and empty conversations, which will otherwise only increase our judgement when Christ returns. Godly conversation is to be sanctified for honouring the Lord, and thus keeping our hearts on Him over all other subjects, to be in a proper tenor before Him, as if God were a part of that very conversation.
We need to realize that the mouth was created by God for glorifying Him, meaning that it is not for reveling in frivolous or empty talk. It is an instrument for extolling His goodness, His mighty works, His character, and for responding to Him according to His own desires for us. For clarity, our mouth is not for speaking of God as if He were some sort of object to be examined, or as if Scripture ought to be scrutinized. Rather, it is for speaking of God and His Word with the utmost reverence, respect, and deference. Many make the mistake of thinking that generically talking about God or Christian subjects is somehow holy. It is not! It is not the fact that you are speaking of such things that is important, but how you are doing so. Think of how many profaners speak of God and holy things with derision or insipid commonality, as if discussing their selection of food items for breakfast. This is insulting and sacrilegious to God, and therefore ought to be also to all of His people. Where, however, is our outrage at professing believers who speak of holy things in such a frivolous manner? And what about those who speak with such passion, occupying the greater parts of their minds and conversation in matters of their earthly profession? Indeed, in its proper context, we are to enjoy and dedicate our profession to God. However, for those who revel in their profession, as if that is who they are and what their life is about—have these not dethroned God and exalted their profession above Him? Should not the great front of our lives and the domination of our conversation be the wonders and holiness of God? Yes, since that is what our mouth is for, and, if we do so, then we truly show that God is forever and always on our heart, so as to place Him above all things in every conversation and interaction—extolling God’s reputation and therefore bringing Him glory in all our interactions. Are we not to be conduits for His glory? There is no other grand purpose for our lives than this.
As before, does this mean that we can only speak of God? Yes and no. Yes, in that we speak everything in light of Him. No, in that the topic of discussion can be very different things—nearly as many things as can be discussed! (The exceptions include conversations dwelling on evil things, such as what the wicked do in secret—Ephesians 5:12). In this regard, our every discussion is to be an extension of our conversation in the Lord. This means that, whatever our discussion, it is to be had in deference to the proper authority and place of God in our lives. In light of the above, we can say that there are two categories of conversation: (1) That subject which is about God directly, and (2) subjects which are about God indirectly. (We already covered talking about God directly). Notice that no conversation should ever be isolated from our relation to God. Any conversation that is isolated from God is empty and frivolous, and guaranteed to be filled with the sins of the heart. Such things are enemies to our redeeming the time in these evil days; things that draw our hearts into evil, even leading us to deny His Lordship insofar as we isolate Him from our conversation. In the case of conversation isolated from God, we act as if such matters do not belong to God, and thus operate independently of our deference and trust in Him. It is as if we are saying to God, “You can have such and such an area, but not these. In these, I will speak as a godless man.” Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Everything that we do in word (everything we say) and deed (everything we do), we do in the Name of the Lord Jesus. This means that, in every conversation, we speak as those speaking on behalf of Christ, and therefore have all of our conversation reflect a heart after Christ’s aims and desires, so as to promote His will and reputation. Colossians 3:17 gives us the spirit of our conversation, as we have laid out. Therefore, we ought to redeem our conversations for the Lord, so that our mouths will honour and glorify God in every word that comes out of it.
Next time, we will be looking at redeeming the time in our conflicts.