One of Billy Joel’s most profound songs Honesty debuted on the airways in 1979. Part of the 1978 album 52nd Street, the chorus of this ballad suggests honesty is such a lonely word. Perhaps, Billy Joel was on to something, prophetic, sharing a glimpse of what the future would hold. Before gun or fist fights, human beings often talked out their differences, no matter how heated a conversation got. Unfortunately, in this age of Facebook, texting and Twitter, loose lips expressed on social media can sink relationships.
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! – Psalm 141:3
Depending upon your personality, you will either seek confrontation or run away. Texting has emboldened some former cowards by avoiding face to face encounters. Yet, what is posted, typed or shared can create a wedge between friends. Politics, religion and worldviews are factors that tend to divide neighborhoods. When opinions are openly expressed on these topics, loose lips sink relationships.
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear, Ephesians 4:29.
The apostle Paul provides a solution to those who have fractured relationships due to careless words. Sure, all human beings are imperfect, prone to moments of weakness where the choice of language is inappropriate. In view of this, the more positive you remain, the less likely you will offend friends and strangers. Faking this will prove to be a waste of time so its essentially to be genuine and honest. While no one will ever be 100% encouraging all the time, this is the goal to restore formerly loose lips to repair relationships.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 