When people greet each other, they usually say, “How are you?” At one time in China, the typical greeting was, “Have you eaten?” In the days of poverty, asking our friends if they had eaten was to express our concern for their well-being.

Today when friends greet me, they often say, “Have you put on weight?” Whether they’re genuinely concerned for my health, or just think I should lose a few pounds, they care about me.

Everything we say, not just our greetings, reflects the concerns of our heart. Jesus said, “Those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart” (Matthew 15:18). He was explaining to His disciples that people could not be morally contaminated by the food they ate, but by words spoken out of unclean hearts.

It was not strange that Jesus’ bold statements offended the Pharisees (v.12). They were great at appearing righteous on the outside, but they had no concern for the hypocrisy in their hearts. As Christ’s disciples, however, our focus should be on keeping our hearts clean so that our words will reflect genuine righteousness.

It is wise to think about the words you use throughout the day, wherever you go. What do they say about the condition of your heart?  —AL