“A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season how good is it” (Proverbs 15:23).
Let me take you back forty-nine years. It was the peak of the summer camping season, and I was working at Indian Falls Lake. My job wasn’t very glamorous. I scrubbed toilets. Morning and evening I scrubbed them. For four years I did it as my summer job. The lifeguards had a glamorous job. They sat in the sunshine, and every once in a while jumped into the lake to pull a struggling swimmer to shore. The crowds applauded. They waved and said, “Just doing my job.” But no one ever applauded when they saw the old “tidy car” approaching with a teenager driving it. All right, all that to say this. My final summer of working at the Lake (it probably began just about this time), I had the thought and even started expressing it, “I am nearly finished working here. I am going to Bible college in the fall, and I shall never scrub another public bathroom. I am studying for the ministry.” I have laughed many times now, and those words bring me joy. It was a word spoken that in its due season came back to teach me a valuable lesson. More about this tomorrow.
For today: Be careful what you say. Many are listening to your words and will help you to remember what you say.