When the author of this article, Robert Berendt, visited a friend he was reminded of the importance of not slandering and gossiping about others. During their conversation his friend showed him a smooth stone he carried all the time. He explained he carried it to remind himself not to throw stones at others. Robert thought it was a great idea and has been carrying his own little stone ever since.
John 8:1-11 relates the instance of the woman who was caught in adultery. She was brought before Jesus Christ by those who wanted to stone her to death for her sin (Deuteronomy 22:22). Although Jesus knew she was guilty, it must have been an enormous relief to her when He said He did not condemn her, and her accusers left. When Jesus wrote in the dust and announced he who was without sin could cast the first stone, her accusers realised they had also sinned and needed to be forgiven.
Robert went on to explain he had decided to keep a stone in his pocket because he realised he had also sinned, and that Jesus had died for his sins when He could have just as easily condemned him. All of us seem to be ready to give advice or tell people how things should be done long before we are asked. We also often deflect criticism of ourselves by judging others. It seems to make us feel better when we can find flaws in another person. Perhaps our own flaws seem smaller then. Jesus spoke to this in Matthew 7:3-4 when He stated we should be sure our own eyes are clear before we reach out to remove a speck from someone else’s eye.
Words can destroy lives just as surely as the biggest rock thrown at them. One often hears of young people who have been bullied and pushed aside to the point that they despair of life. Proverbs 25:18 speaks to the damage words can do, comparing our words to a club, sword or sharp arrow. While Proverbs 16:27-28 tells us words have the power to separate the closest friends and that ungodly men dig up evil about others.
In Genesis we read that although Adam and Eve both sinned, they could not admit they were to blame. Eve blamed the serpent, Adam blamed Eve and, in a way, both blamed God. Nowhere in the account is the self-examination and repentance seen that God seeks.
By looking into what is taught in the Bible we should learn to curb our often wayward tongues in our interactions with others. Proverbs 16:21-24 outlines the goals we should have in order to add “health to the bones” of others. God’s Word is His mirror, which when we study it reveals our true selves and should motivate us to change (James 1:23-24).
