Each person has a boiling point, like silver and gold. As they are purified, that temperature gets higher...they become more purely meek. Until that time, they can be stirred up to anger by others adding ingredients into the mix.
When someone throws idle words around, they add 'salt' to the water, lowering the boiling point. If the person was walking purely, and had their boiling point at the highest point, the added salt may just be an irritation. If the person had had other things added to his situation, and had already had his boiling point lowered, then he may just blow up. Judge if your words are good or bad.
Matt 12:33 (KJS) Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by [his] fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. 36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.
So, the one who throws idle words around, will be judged...and it shows what type of heart he has. The following also illustrated the purpose of our words and the power:
Prov 10:11 (KJS) The mouth of a righteous [man is] a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
Stirring up strifes: This can easily be done by words, and without words, this is next to impossible.
Prov 10:13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod [is] for the back of him that is void of understanding. 14 Wise [men] lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish [is] near destruction. 19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise. 20 The tongue of the just [is as] choice silver: the heart of the wicked [is] little worth. 21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom. 23 [It is] as sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.
Idle words, combined with a sport to do mischief...what does this say about joking, teasing, or any other foolish jesting?
Ephe 5:4 (KJS) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Does this add to the victims heart and cause their boiling point to be lowered? Who bears this responsibility? Who is responsible for causing this destruction in another's heart?
Prov 15:1 (KJS) A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Grievous words DO stir up anger!
Prov 10: 30 The righteous shall never be removed: but the wicked shall not inhabit the earth. 31 The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked [speaketh] frowardness.
The mouth of the wicked will not go unpunished...but is idle words, joking, teasing, baiting, or any other type of activity considered sin? What does the word say?
Ephe 5:4 (KJS) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Prov 18:21 (KJS) Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Prov 15:4 (KJS) A wholesome tongue [is] a tree of life: but perverseness therein [is] a breach in the spirit.
The person that is receiving is responsible for their actions also. They are in the fire of refining. And with each purification, the fire must be turned hotter to purify.
It is their responsibility NOT to boil...to give up their rights...to cease from anger and forsake wrath
Psal 37:8 (KJS) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.
1Pet 3:10 (KJS) For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
But when tested to the boiling point......one must call out for grace from God, and He will deliver us, and we will be purified.......before boiling over. We are to do preparation before the time comes, but we do have some help from God.
Prov 15:1 (KJS) A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Ephe 4:23 (KJS) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. 26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27 Neither give place to the devil.
Ephe 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. 30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Colo 3:8 (KJS) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
The person with the idle words is guilty of stirring up strife and IF the other stumbles, they are guilty of causing one of Christ little one's to stumble.
Luke 17:2 (KJS) It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.
The person being tested can cry out to God for a way of escape:
1Cor 10:13 (KJS) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
If we fail:
1Joh 1:9 (KJS) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Commandments of Christ are to Love God and our neighbor:
Matt 22:37 (KJS) Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second [is] like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
Love each other, as God would have you love....and help each other to grow into the fullness of Christ, by watching what our words say and do....and our actions....
Ephe 4:32 (KJS) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Ephe 5:1 (KJS) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.
written by Christi Wildman, 10/10/98