Speech

He who reigns within himself and rules his passions, desires and fears is more than a king.

For where you have envy and selfish ambition,
there you find disorder and every evil practice.
— James 3:16

We were able to see a perfect example of the old adage, "Loose lips sink ships," and its subsequent consequences when Fuzzy Zoeller, a veteran of the PGA golf tour, made an off-handed remark about one of his younger colleagues, Tiger Woods. He referred to Tiger as "that little boy" and urged him not to request fried chicken and collard greens for the champion's dinner at next year's Masters. His remarks cost him his endorsements with K-Mart and participation in a tournament in the Carolinas.

We in the clergy can be some of the worst offenders when it comes to idle gossip about one another. I must plead guilty myself! It seems we are intrigued by the misfortune of others in our ranks and spend an inordinate amount of time talking to one another about it. The Zoeller/Woods incident reminded me of how careful we must be when we discuss the life and ministry of one of our own.

Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:29, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up." I not only say amen to that, but I also pray, "Oh Lord, please help me keep my mouth shut!"

Zoeller issued an apology, and perhaps that might be fitting for many of us. Some of us need to apologize and some of us need to forgive those who have spoken ill of us. Every human being is tempted to talk of the faults and weaknesses of others — especially those they envy or dislike. But ministers ought to set the standard of godly speech.

Taken from The Minister's Little Devotional Book.
Copyright © 1997 by H.B. London Jr. and Stan Toler.
Used by permission of RiverOak Publishing, Tulsa, Okla.
All rights reserved.