We Need to Watch Our Tongue

I came across this photo today on Facebook. The words are very valuable. Many times we speak before we think about what we say. Other times we have no intention of saying something but before you know it the words jump out of your mouth. Then you regret what was said.

It reminds me of a story I read the other day:

Author Kevin Miller writes: "I was flying from San Francisco to Chicago. Five minutes before takeoff from San Francisco, a gate agent from ATA came on the plane and said to me, "Get your bags and come with me." I got my bags out of the bin and followed her into the jetway and asked, "Why? Is this a random security check?"

She said, "The captain refused to have you on this flight."

As we walk up the jetway, I realize I'm probably going to miss this flight, and wonder, What in the world is going on? In the terminal, she pointed me to the black vinyl seats and said, "Sit there. A supervisor will come talk to you."

I'm waiting there, perplexed, looking out the window as the ATA plane I should be on backs away from the gate. I know there are no more ATA flights to Chicago today. After 10 or 15 minutes, I demand, "What's going on?" The gate agent says flatly, "A supervisor will talk to you."

Soon four uniformed San Francisco cops, revolvers on their hips, walk up to me. "Do you know why you're here?"

"No," I said. "I was hoping you'd tell me."

"Isn't there anything you said that caused you to be here?"

"Well," I said, "I did make a comment to my friend about looking like a terrorist. I know I shouldn't have said that. I was just making a private joke."

The cop, steel hair and strong jaw, shoots back, "You can't joke about those things. They may not allow you to fly again in the future.""

After a delay for several hours, security allowed Kevin to go free and to allow him to fly again. He concludes: "So now I'm sitting in San Francisco airport for 9 ½ hours and losing an entire night's sleep. All because of a few stray words."

This happened to me as well as I was preaching Sunday. I said something I did not have any intention on saying. If it was offensive I apologize.

Matthew 12:36 states, "But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken."

So let us watch our tongue before it gets us into trouble.