The other week I heard an analogy that was most helpful. I thought I’d pass it along to you.
The lesson was being given to elementary students and the topic was about our speech and how to be sure it glorifies God.
This is probably a great topic for us all. How easy it is for us to complain or to gossip! Complaints and gossip about others often pour from our mouths much more easily than words of gratitude and encouragement.
The teacher that day compared our words to two types of birds.
First, he mentioned the buzzard and how this bird goes into a field to search and find what is dead. He feeds on the dead things.
Now, from a practical perspective, we can be glad God designed buzzards to do this! They do a great service to the earth that God created.
But, as people, we don’t want to be like the buzzard and hunt down all the negative, bad, “dead” things.
Next he mentioned the hummingbird. This tiny bird goes into a field to search and find the beautiful flowers.
While the buzzard feeds on dead things, the hummingbird feeds on the nectar from the flowers.
And the question that begs to be answered is this: What are we searching for and speaking about? The negative, ugly stuff or the positive, beautiful things?
Philippians 4:8 puts it like this—
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
And, according to scripture, the greatest way we can tell what someone is thinking about is through the words that come out of their mouth—
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.
One of the greatest challenges in this current Christian culture is the tendency to twist scripture into a false Gospel that isn’t biblical. This is often done by placing improper significance on certain things and eliminating or disregarding others.
One of the things that has gotten much emphasis over the past years within Christian circles is this idea of positive thoughts and words. Only speak the positive and never speak the negative.
But this isn’t what the Bible teaches, is it?
And so, as believers who want to grow in our faith, we need to navigate these wrong emphases by serious study of the scripture.
Speaking positive, thankful, uplifting words is a good thing. In fact, it’s a great thing!
May we not, in our efforts to distance ourselves from a wrong movement within Christianity, distance ourselves from the Truth of scripture.
May we be known among our family, friends, and co-workers to be more like the hummingbird than the buzzard. May we strive to look for the good, to speak words of gratitude, and to keep those unkind words and complaints to ourselves.
In doing this, we will not only be pleasing the Lord but we will find much more willing listeners when we do find ourselves needing to speak something that is perceived as negative.
God has given us mouths to speak. I am not sure I always consider what a serious responsibility this is.
As James reminds us in his third chapter, the tongue is a powerful tool. May we use it to glorify and honor God. May we use it to build up and encourage others. And may we use it to point others to God, to His marvelous plan of salvation, and to His perfect Word.