Main Attraction

(picture from world atlas)

Where is the crowd at the zoo? Take a walk over to the monkey habitat and see what kind of fun things are happening.  A popular zoo monkey is the Rhesus. They come from the jungles of India. They are like noisy bees in the wild! Rhesus monkeys will jump, fight, argue and chatter non-stop. It's no wonder they are a main attraction!

What is another loud monkey? You guessed it if you said the HOWLER monkey. They sound something like a car horn! Imagine yourself in a room with that going off continuously. You might think he is being attacked when actually, he is just making a great deal of unnecessary noise. 

Sometimes people talk the same way monkeys make noise. We often talk TOO much and without thinking. Even worse, we say things which might upset others. If we choose to say kind words, they can be as sweet to the soul as honey is on your tongue (Proverbs 16:24). BUT when we merely chatter and don't think, we might really hurt someone's feelings.*

Job 15:2-3 says, "Should a wise man utter vain knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? Should he reason with unprofitable talk? or with speeches wherewith he can do no good?" Be careful what you say!  "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment (Matthew 12:36)."

Take a few minutes to sit down with your Bible and read verses that mention words, speech, talk, tongue or mouth. Need help getting started? Turn to Proverbs 18:21 and ask the Lord to help your words honor Him every day.

(*excerpt adapted from "Listen to the Animals" by William Coleman)