In my last post I wrote about filters and in particular the need for language filters when it comes to our speech and what we write. The intent of the post was to challenge us to carefully filter the words that come out of our mouths, especially when it comes to not taking private and personal conversations public. In this weeks’ post I’d like to challenge us to take this a step further and look at using a filter for our thought life.

The story is told of the ancient philosopher Socrates. An acquaintance approached him and said. “Do you know what I just heard about your friend? The great philosopher stopped him in his tracks and said before you tell me anything let’s put what you are going to say through the triple filter. The man replied, the triple filter? Yes, replied Socrates. Is what you are going to say to me true? Well not exactly said the man. So, it’s not absolutely true. Is what you are going to say about my friend good? Uh, no said the man. So, it’s not true and it’s not good. Is what you are going to say useful? Not exactly said the man. Socrates concluded, “Well, if what you want to say about my friend is not true, not good, nor useful, then why say it at all?”

The Socrates triple filter test certainly teaches us a valuable lesson when it comes to listening to what people say to you about others. However, Scripture takes it a step further and challenges us to use filters when it comes to our thoughts and the things our mind dwells on. Our thoughts go even deeper than what we say or listen to and reveals the intents and motives of our heart.

Philippians 4:8 Goes beyond a triple filter test for what we listen to or say and gives us eight areas to filter our thoughts through. The Apostle Paul says, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.

You gotta admit, if we practice this kind of discipline in our thought and talk life, the peace, rest, life-balance and wellbeing we’ll experience will be well worth the investment. We will also very likely end up listening much more than we speak. Which may be exactly why God created us with two ears and one mouth rather than the other way around.

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