Blessings or Curses

Blessings or Curses

“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.

                                  My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”   James 3:10

            Can you imagine this picture:  A young family is sitting in church and their little 2-year old starts swearing?   The embarrassed parents try to cover it up by saying, “I don’t know where he got that from; he must have heard it at daycare.”  Who do you think believes that?  He no doubt heard either mom or dad spilling out their anger over something.  It probably isn’t the first time he’s heard those cuss words.

            Matthew 15:10-11 say’s, “When He had called the multitude to Himself, He said to them, "Hear and understand: It’s not what goes into the mouth that defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”  Men and women, would you really like your son or daughter to speak rudely, or use profanity?  Perhaps you should talk to your children about the language you use and tell them they are not to talk naughty talk like Mommy or Daddy.

            There is a Sunday school song that every child used to sing and it goes like this:

Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see, (repeat)
For the Father up above, is looking down in love,
Oh be careful little eyes what you see.

Oh, be careful little mouth, what you say, (repeat),
For the Father up above, is looking down in love,
Oh be careful little mouth what you say.

Oh, be careful little hands, what you do (repeat),
For the Father up above, is looking down in love,
Oh be careful little hands what you do.

                                          Be careful little ears what you hear, (repeat)

                                          For the Father up above, is looking down in love,

                                                 So be careful little ears what you hear.

            Do you even think about what it means to swear, curse or cuss?  It means to use an offensive or rude word that expresses anger, frustration, surprise, etc.  It is the same as blaspheme or swearing an oath.

           God tells us in Deuteronomy 5:11 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.”  In other words, if you swear using the name of God or of Jesus, you will be punished.  Yes, that is Old Testament, but God never changes and will hold you to this. 

            When angry with another person, no matter the circumstances, we still don’t have permission to curse them. Matt. 5: 44  “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.”

           On the other side come blessings.  The entire Bible deals with the positive of Blessings.  God’s Word speaks in so many ways how He wants to bless us.  Psalm 31:19 is a good example; “For you [God] have stored up great blessings for those who trust and reverence you.”  This is only one of hundred’s of God’s blessings.  It also shows us how we should bless others. 

            Can you imagine the effect of daily blessing your children, no matter their age? It is Jewish custom for the Father (or mother if there is no father in the home) to lay hands on your child’s head and bless them in the name of the Lord.  Some Christians do this with their children and understand the meaning of it.  When we bless others, we are giving them God’s protection and love.  You may not know what this may mean to each person in the future.  This blessing is also spoken in many churches at the close of their service,  “The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.”                        Numbers 6:24-26   Don’t just read over this, but honestly read it again and think about it.  When you give a blessing on others, this is what it really means.

            In James 3:12 we are reminded, “No spring yields both salt water and fresh.”  It is not right that both blessings and cursing come out of your mouth.  Would you rather that someone curse you or bless you?  As a true Christian we should not even have to think about it when we speak.