Wisdom From EcclesiastesSample

Watch your mouth

The gem industry would like you to think that diamonds are forever. You know what else never dies? Stuff you put on the Internet. Somehow the tech nerds who invented computer servers developed such automatic and redundant backup programming and capacity that everything that ever entered the ’Net will live forever. Somewhere in a server farm in Lapland is an astonishing record of your words and life, the good and the bad.

Watch your mouth! Think before you click! “Do not revile the king even in your thoughts, or curse the rich in your bedroom, because a bird of the sky may carry your words, and a bird on the wing may report what you say” (Ecclesiastes 10:20). “Friends” who love drama and excitement will pass on your remarks about other people to those very people. People of dubious judgment will forward your e-mails and tweets. Your cell phone texts, tweets, and GPS locations are indefinitely available to smart people. The proliferation of public digital cameras and computerized video recording also means that you are a movie star every day whether you realize it or not.

Here’s a self-check for what you speak and send today: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it helpful? Would I be ashamed if this got out? You know, it is good also to be mindful, even apart from your massive cyber audience, that our Lord hears all we say and sees all we do.