James 3:12 KJV
[12] “Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”
James gives us a simple fact that we can all understand. A fountain cannot give forth two kinds of water, and a tree cannot bear two types of fruit. Whenever we drink from a fountain, we expect clear sweet water. When we plant an apple tree, we expect the tree to produce apples. These are simple facts that everyone would agree on.
The same is true about the vocabulary of the Christian. The listeners expect things that are pleasant to hear. They expect fresh water that replenishes and restores the listener. They expect the right kind of fruit to come out of our mouths. What we say can destroy our testimony if we are not careful. We must choose our words wisely and prayerfully at all times. It is important to ask the Lord for daily guidance regarding our thoughts and tongues.
I challenge each of us to mark our words and do an inventory of our vocabulary. What do we talk about? What kind of words do we use in our reactions and our expressions? How do we affect our listeners? Do we infect our listeners with words and thoughts that are not becoming of a Christian? Does our speech help or hurt the cause of Christ? One final question for us to consider is, are people better off spiritually by listening to what we have to say, or are they hindered spiritually by our words?
Remember, the fruit of a tree has everything to do with the root system. What is inside our hearts will come out of our mouths. That is a simple fact that we cannot deny. You cannot talk out of both sides of your mouth without it telling on you. Dear reader, to find out the condition of your heart, simply listen to your words, and you will know.