CHRISTIAN LIFE: Learning to Walk and Talk
Living carefully as a Christian…..
As children develop it is natural for them to learn how to walk and talk. The first steps of a child mark a milestone and are watched with pleasure by the parents. In the same way the child’s first faltering attempt to speak is a sign of progress. Before long the little one will be able to walk unaided across the room and string together a coherent sentence. If there is any indication of a defect, whether in mobility or in speech, a caring parent will be quick to provide help.
Spiritually we need to learn how to walk and to talk too. Christian educators have recognized the importance of this and have taught young children, and older ones, to “be careful” what they do. You may be familiar with the simply-constructed song which encourages “little eyes … ears … tongue … hands … feet … heart … mind” to be careful what they do. We all need reminding of this!
In view of the expansive nature of the topic being explored, this article will make use of a wide-ranging number of Bible verses. However, three anchor points will hold our thoughts together as we focus on three separate Psalms – one at the beginning, one in the middle, and the other at the end of the article.
PSALM 33
As we commence it is worth reflecting on Psalm 33:13-15: “The LORD looketh from heaven; He beholdeth all the sons of men. From the place of His habitation He looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth. He fashioneth their hearts alike; He considereth all their works” (KJV). The simple truth at the centre of this passage is expressed in a number of ways. We cannot avoid the plain fact that God is looking upon all of us all of the time. We are accountable to Him, and if we are His children our chief ambition should be to please Him.
Human beings possess five vital senses. We can consider them one by one and discover some practical lessons from God’s Word.
THE SENSE OF SIGHT
Think of the gift of sight and the importance of our eyes. How do we use them? Job determined that he would not allow his eyes to focus wrongly on a young woman’s appearance (Job 31:1). Many centuries later the Lord Jesus explained that looking lustfully on a woman was actually committing adultery in the heart (Mt.5:28). Solomon was aware of the danger posed by alcohol and counselled his son not to “look” longingly on the sparkling wine because it could sting like a serpent (Prov.23:31,32). As the eyes are the gateway to the heart, it is vital to watch what we watch! This can certainly be applied to films and television. David’s words in Psalm 101:3 challenge us not to set anything wicked before our eyes. Is God pleased with what we watch? He can certainly see it.
THE SENSE OF HEARING
The second sense to ponder is hearing. Consider briefly, in this respect, a warning from Solomon. Putting it bluntly, Solomon explained that you might hear your servant curse you. Is this unthinkable? By no means, Solomon continued, for we have all said wrong things about others (Eccl.7:21,22). “A bird of the air” (an unsuspecting source) may carry “the voice” (or even your thoughts) to someone else (Eccl.10:20). While we ought not to speak unadvisedly, this verse also reminds us not to have our “ear to the ground” too often. We may hear things about ourselves we would be better not knowing!
TOUCH, TASTE, SCENT
The sense of touch may relate particularly to our hands. How are we using them? “Touch not the unclean thing” (2 Cor.6:17) is a necessary warning. We live in a very impure world, so we must ensure we do not put our hands (figuratively speaking) to unclean activities. “Keep thyself pure” (1 Tim.5:22).
When we consider the sense of taste we might think about our tongue. Solomon warned his son not to develop a taste for the “dainties” of the rich (Prov.23:6). That itself is a lesson to ponder, but we will return to look at the subject of the tongue a little more broadly later.
The nose enables us to use of gift of scent. The elderly Isaac smelt his son Jacob’s garments and detected “the smell of a field” which persuaded him that it was Esau (Gen.27:27). It is possible, like Isaac, to be deceived if we depend too much on our natural senses. Had he possessed the gift of sight he would have seen that it was Jacob and not Esau.
PSALM 34
Having looked briefly at our five senses from Scripture, we must return to the book of Psalms for our second reference point. David wrote, “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it” (Ps.34:13,14).
In Psalm 33 we noted the general truth that God is watching us all the time. Nothing escapes His attention. Those two verses in Psalm 34 remind us of the two activities which were mentioned at the beginning of the article – walking and talking. In this passage our attention is drawn first to our talk. David’s exhortation is that our tongue should be kept from evil or harmful conversation and our “walk” in this world should be along the pathway of peace which is “good” in God’s sight. Both activities must be considered in the light of Holy Scripture.
WALKING
First, let us think about our “walk”. So many verses in the New Testament portray the life of a believer in terms of “walking” through this world. Due to the constraints of space it will only be possible to look at a few references. In the writings of John we are reminded of the need to “walk in the light” (1 Jn.1:7). Just two verses earlier we are told that “God is light”, so walking in the light means allowing His character to shine upon us. Sin is associated with darkness. We must therefore avoid the paths of sin and allow the light of God’s Word to illumine our pathway through this world.
Another practical lesson can be found in Ephesians 5:2 where we read, “Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us”. How can we forget the love of our Saviour who willingly surrendered His life at Calvary when He took our place and died for our sins? Remembering that love and His call for us to follow Him, we should also tread the pathway of love. This means loving God and seeking to please Him, as well as loving one another. A high standard has certainly been set for us when we consider how we should “walk, even as He walked” (1 Jn.2:6).
Colossians 4:5 states, “Walk in wisdom toward them that are without”. This refers particularly to how we live before unsaved people. What a great need there is for wisdom! How easily we can fail and bring the message of the Gospel into disrepute. We must live sanctified (holy) lives without being sanctimonious, or simply appearing to be morally superior. Not only is God watching us; other people are too. In 2 Timothy 2:4 Paul used the illustration of a soldier endeavouring to please his commanding officer. If we are born again we have been called by Christ to follow Him and to be His soldiers in a hostile land. How important it is therefore to please Him in all things.
TALKING
Returning to the instruction found in Psalm 34, it might be helpful to spend a little more time thinking of our speech. “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile” (Ps.34:13). The classic passage dealing with the tongue is James 3 in which the apostle reminded his readers of how easily we can cause offence by our speech. Although the tongue is such “a little member” in the body, it boasts of great things (v.5). It is destructive by nature and cannot be tamed, being “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (v.8). This practical portion of God’s Word is worth reading carefully and prayerfully on a regular basis.
Another very helpful book containing practical instruction is Proverbs. There is great benefit in reading it regularly – perhaps in small, digestible sections. Much of the teaching is presented in short, pithy (expressive) statements. Contrasts can often be found. For instance, consider Proverbs 12:18: “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health.” Words have the power to hurt or to heal. Speech that pleases God is health-giving. All too often we speak before we have thought about the consequences which may follow. Another timely warning is found in Proverbs 29:20: “Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.” The fool presented in Proverbs may sometimes not have the ability to speak, but at least this keeps him out of trouble! How many problems have arisen because we expressed ourselves too quickly and then regretted it.
The numerous warnings in Proverbs may make us feel very inadequate. If, as James taught, the tongue cannot be tamed, what hope do we have? Left to our own efforts we could do nothing, but help is available. The Lord is able to assist us in our sinfulness and weakness. Truly, the prayer of Psalm 141:3 is timely: “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” We would do well to make this a daily prayer.