We've been considering the three little monkeys: "Hear No Evil," "See No Evil," and "Speak No Evil." At this time let's contemplate what we can learn from the third monkey.

3. SPEAK NO EVIL.
This is almost impossible unless one is mute, although we do have more control over what we speak than what we sometimes see or hear. The Scriptures have much to say about our speech. Consider these words of wisdom from God's word:

• Ephesians 4:29 - "Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

• James 3:1-12:

  "My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh."

• Matthew 12:34 - "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."

We are in the world, but we are not to be of the world (cf. John 17:14-18). Don't be like the world! Let us seek that which is pure and strive to speak no evil.

Dear listeners, we can be reminded of some valuable Biblical truths from these three little monkeys. If we would do our best to avoid seeing, hearing, and speaking evil, this world would be a much better place, and our influence for good would be magnified! However, don't just sit doing nothing like these monkeys. Hearing no evil, seeing no evil, and speaking no evil is important, but it doesn't make one righteous!

James 4:17 states - "Therefore to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." There is so much good to be done if we will simply open our eyes, ears, and mouths in service to the Lord! I Thessalonians 5:21,22 commands - "Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." Don't just avoid what is bad; cling to what is good!

• See the fields that are white unto harvest (cf. John 4:35). See opportunities to do good (cf. Gal. 6:9,10).
• Hear God's word and follow it (cf. Rom. 10:17). Your faith will be strengthened. Hear the cries of those in need--and help them (cf. I John 3:17).
• Speak forth the words of life which will save others (cf. Rom. 1:16; Matt. 28:19,20). Speak the truth in love (cf. Eph. 4:15).

May we never forget I Corinthians 15:58 - "Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord."