“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh” (Luke 6:45).
There is a slang expression related to computer technology that says, “Garbage in, garbage out.” It implies that the quality of the output is related to the quality of the input. If faulty or nonsensical data is put into the computer, then like data will be the output. This idea applies to our hearts and minds as well, as the verse in Luke indicates. Good treasure put into a heart will bring forth that which is good; and likewise, the heart filled with evil treasure will bring forth evil. The fact that the verse concludes with the admonishment that out “of the abundance of the heart” will a person’s mouth speak indicates the relationship between the condition of the heart and the kind of words that the mouth will speak.
Having been married for 45 years, I have learned from experience just how powerful my words can be in the ears of my husband. Not only do words make a difference, but the way in which they are spoken can affect the way in which they are received. Our minds, hearts, and emotions are all interconnected; thus it behooves us to take care that we look to the condition of them. That requires diligence in feeding our minds with healthy thoughts and ideas, and filling our hearts with the Word of God. That is the “good treasure” that will help to produce the kind and encouraging words with which we can edify and bless our husbands.
The relationship between a husband and a wife was designed by God to be very special. If a healthy and loving relationship is to be maintained, there must be a deep consideration of the wellbeing of each other physically, mentally, and spiritually. The communication between spouses is critical to this wellbeing. My words ought to express not only love but also encouragement and edification. They ought to provoke my husband to be the best man and husband that he can be, which will not only bless me but also honor the Lord. Yes, friend, our words can do that! Kind, loving, and encouraging words are infinitely more constructive than those spoken with an edge that can cut like a knife.
Not only is it important that we be vigilant about the condition of our own hearts, but it also benefits us, as wives, to take care that we know our husbands well enough to perceive how they will respond to the words we speak. Often it takes time to become familiar enough with his response to our comments in order to discern what, when, and how to say something to him. Believe me, there have been plenty of times that I have spoken without considering how he might receive my comments, and I have put the proverbial foot in mouth!
Besides the consideration of the words we speak to our husbands, and how we speak them, is the thought of what we say to others about our husbands. This is where we need to watch our tongues! We know that the book of James speaks of the tongue as a fire, and as something that cannot be tamed, able to destroy as a poison or to promote health. It’s so important to remember that what you say about your husband to other people can either promote him or destroy him. If your heart is full of love for the Savior and for your husband, you will take care to speak those things that will honor both. That’s why it is critical that, as wives, we see to it that our hearts are filled with “good treasure” from which will come kind, loving, beneficial words for our husbands.
Action Points:
- Are you diligently feeding your mind, heart, and emotions with healthy thoughts and ideas? Take time today to read Philippians 4:8, and “Think on these things.”
- Make it a point this week to invest “good treasure” into the lives of others with positive, beneficial words.
Written by Pam Leake, wife of Pastor Ed Leake.
Taken from The Extraordinary Wife. CLICK HERE for more information on the book.
