Occupational Hazards

I am a preacher. It’s a responsibility that I do not take lightly. Every time I stand to preach I breathe a little prayer that is actually a smash-up of a few Psalms, “Search me, O God…may the words of my mouth be pleasing to you.”

Giving God a search warrant is a dangerous prayer, but one that God is faithful to answer every time. It’s not like he needs a warrant…he knows what’s there. It’s more for us than for Him.

As I come to James 3, here’s what God’s search warrant has uncovered: words have power to heal and power to harm…power to build and power to destroy…power to unite and power to divide. I must be extremely careful in how I use them.

For better or worse, I’ve been called to words. It’s an occupational hazard that preachers can’t avoid. I want the words that I speak, write, and tweet to be God-honoring, Kingdom-building, and life-giving. As I prepare to open my mouth on Sunday, this is my prayer.

Sunday, however, is only a small part of the equation. I want my life to be a Monday-Saturday “living letter” of the Gospel. The biggest difference any of us will make in someone’s life is not when the microphone is hot and the lights are bright. May we not underestimate the daily opportunities we have to speak life-giving blessings when no one is looking.

If my words have hurt or divided or destroyed, I sincerely apologize. I pray that you would find the grace of Christ to forgive me.

I also pray that my life-giving words are not drown out by life-taking words that I probably should have kept to myself. I pray that my first impulse would be to listen, and that I would learn to refrain from speaking when I’m angry. I need divine wisdom for speaking into uncomfortable situations that require pastoral correction (another unfortunate occupational hazard), and I pray my zeal for justice is never greater than my desire to love others.

Words matter. I’m a preacher…I should know.

I’ll be preaching James 3 this Sunday — not as an expert who has mastered a skill, but as one beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.