For “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit;” (I Peter 3:10 ESV)
The Right Words and Love
The Right Words are not that difficult to find. The Right Words are not the words that will bring us the most success. The Right Words are not the words that will increase our influence. The Right Words are not the words that will bring us popularity. The Right Words are not the words that will change the world.
The Right Words are simply the truth.
We know when we lied. And we know when we want to lie. And we know when we are about to lie.
If we are being honestly introspective, we might see certain activities and attitudes as warning lights. Some things we do are indicators that we are liking our lies and want to keep them.
When we are defensive, it is usually because of we are defending untruth. When we make excuses, it is usually because we are covering up for deception. When we insult, it is usually because we are diverting attention from dishonesty.
Truth is always the Right Word. And Right Words are always connected to love.
Peter, in this verse, connects telling the truth with loving life. But he did not mean, “enjoying the pleasures of your life.” When he mentions seeing good days, he did not mean, “liking everything that happens to you.”
He means putting love in every aspect of your life. Filling life with love. Loving every person, situation, and context that we are in life with.
He means that when we love we get to see God’s goodness. Truth allows us to see what is good. Truth opens our eyes to God’s goodness in every person, situation, and context that we are in life with.
That looks a lot more complicated than it is. Peter is telling us that if we love the Right Words (the truth) we will have a wowza life! Because loving Truth means loving God. And vice versa.
Take the love God grants us.