What’s in your cup?
At a conference I attended years ago, the speaker held out a cup filled with water and asked someone to come up and hold it. An eager volunteer stood there holding the filled cup, when the speaker pushed his arm, spilling water all over the carpet. And the speaker asked,
“Why did the water spill?”
“Because you pushed my arm,” came the quick reply.
“That’s not why you spilled the water. Does anyone know why he spilled the water?” the speaker asked the audience.
All kinds of answers were shouted from the fault of the cup-holder to a flaw in the cup. None were correct.
“The reason water spilled from the cup is because water was in the cup. If there had been coffee in the cup, coffee would have spilled. Whatever is inside the cup is what will spill out.”
This echoes a statement Jesus made:
“ A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 6:45 NLT
For years, I tried to control my tongue. I wanted my speech to be seasoned with grace (Col. 4:6). But it was like trying to cap a volcano. All the fiery turbulence would seep out some other way. When I finally fully realized it was “out of the abundance of my heart that my mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45 KJV), I realized I wouldn’t have to worry about my mouth at all as long as my heart was pure. Whatever fills my heart would flow out through my mouth.
David speaks to this truth in Psalm 51, where he recounts his sin, then declares, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. … Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you. … Open my lips, Lord, and my mouth will declare your praise.” Psalm 51:10-15 First David asks for God to create a pure heart in him and to fill him with His presence. Only then will he witness to the lost and declare praise to God.
First things first, let’s fill our hearts with gratitude, forgiveness, kindness, love for all. Then we need not fret about the overflow.
A very timely thought, Susan. I am ever in need of this lesson.
Great message, Susan. You are right; whatever our hearts are filled with, that is what will spill from the mouth. May we always spill out gratitude, forgiveness, kindness, and love.
What a terrific example and how thought provoking. May we all have our cup filled to the top with Jesus, so He will be what pours out.
Great point, Susan. It’s our heart God wants to shape. If only the process weren’t so difficult!