4/28/2021 – Pastor Brian’s Blog –
If you know me, you may know that I never considered school as my friend. I just disliked studying and doing homework. In elementary school my favorite class was recess and in high school it was 3pm home room, because that meant school was over. But I loved to play sports, so I was committed to do anything I had to do in order to keep my grades good enough so that I could play.
I remember as if it were yesterday. My good friend Ronnie and I were in the principal’s office being accused of cheating on a test. We had both been sitting beside Lois in class, who just happened to receive great grades in school. Well Ron and I are now seated in front of the principal’s desk, being accused of coping Lois’ answers because all three of us got 100% on the test.
I wanted to say to the principal, “Why isn’t Lois in here with Ronnie? How do you know that THEY did not copy MY test!?!” But I knew the principal was not a big fan of mine, so I thought I should just listen. Besides, Ron and I had already decided that we would just deny that we had cheated. So we both said no, and after some more interrogation, we were released and allowed to go back to our classrooms.
Unbeknownst to me… the principal called Ronnie back into the office without me. Ron confessed to the whole thing, so I was the one that got busted. Never did I ever dream that my good friend would tattle on me!!
Believe it or not, each one of us carries around a tattletale with us all the time. It is a tattletale that often is willing to tell on us at the most inconvenient times. It is a tattletale that reveals things about us that we never wanted anyone to know. It is a tattletale that people rarely see, but when it speaks, it takes great delight in sharing what is really happening in our life.
Unfortunately that tattletale is our tongue. Jesus said, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Matthew 12:34) Often this tattletale doesn’t speak much when life is going well, when I want to impress someone, or when I think I am in control of the situation. However it is in those times that I feel I am losing control, or I am angry, or someone tries to take advantage of me, when that tattletale becomes most active at tattling on my heart.
Some certain physical illnesses exist that produce terrible breath odors. Likewise, a sinful heart produces terrible evidences in our lives … “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips.” (Romans 3:13)
I remember when our youngest son Jeremy was little and he had done something wrong. I do not remember the offense, but I do remember that his mother disciplined him by giving him a spanking. Jeremy’s response to Judy was, “That didn’t hurt.” (I don’t think I needed to mention that he was my son!!!)
At that moment, his tattletale tongue told us that his wrongdoing was not the problem, the problem was Jeremy’s heart. Jeremy had a rebellious and unrepentant heart and it had to be dealt with at that moment.
If we allow the wrong attitudes to remain in our hearts, attitudes like an unwillingness to repent of sin, pride, arrogance, fear, sensuality, etc (you can include your own sins that you try to hide), over time your tongue will eventually tattle on you.
In all reality, all talk is heart talk. If you want to know what is most important to you, listen to what you talk about the most. If you want to know if you are walking in unforgiveness, listen to what your heart wants you to say when that person enters into the room. Want to know how your relationship with God is going? Listen to how little or how much you talk to others about Him.
Paul says… “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
As you change the way you think, as you begin to think more Biblically, your heart will follow. If you neglect God’s word and God’s instructions, your heart will also follow that direction.
Neglect your heart and I promise it will tattle on you every time. And from my experience, it is even a bigger tattletale than my friend Ronnie!!
