Words can carry a load of heaviness or float the recipient to a new realm with their encouraging lilt.
Our words begin with our thoughts. So feeding our thoughts is where it all begins. When we feed our minds with right thoughts, subsequent speech is filled with encouragement and life.
The apostle Paul taught in his letter to the Ephesians that our language should always be that which brings encouragement to the listener. He stated we are not to use unwholesome words. In fact, the Amplified Bible puts it like this,
“Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth…” (Eph 4:29)
This is a very clear message. We are never to use speech that pollutes the air.
In our society, we are inundated with unwholesome speech. Until the 1980s there was no profanity allowed on the airwaves. In fact, there were (and still are) laws in place prohibiting the use of such speech in public. I’m not sure we could ever enforce those laws again.
There are words now used publicly, even in church services, which were once considered vulgar and would have led one to trouble. They still are vulgar but have lost their punch because of their common use.
I have a couple of words which are my pet peeves, as I’m sure we all do. I believe it is unfortunate the use of these words has become so widespread in Christian circles. In all honesty, I think many Christians have no idea of the origin of these expressions and sincerely don’t realize what they are actually saying. Others most certainly know and simply consider their life as being “under grace” and it’s all good. However, the Bible is very clear that we will be held accountable for the words we speak. EVERY. IDLE. WORD.
Sobering, right? Those of us who are born again will stand before the judgement seat of Christ. We will be JUDGED. Yep, that’s what it says, JUDGED, by the works we do and the words we speak after we become Christians.
So, how are we supposed to talk?
Let’s look at the remainder of the verse from Ephesians.
“… but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].”
This teaches we are to only use our words to encourage others. We are to use every occasion, even a reprimand, to bless the listener. That means we can even correct someone (employee, child, etc.), with the right words and we will not make an enemy of them.
Paul also teaches us how to have right thoughts that lead to right words. In his letter to the Philippians he says to fix our minds on things that are true & pure, honorable, noble, lovely, peaceful, admirable, reputable & excellent. When we fill ourselves with these thoughts, our speech will be filled with the same. This is reinforced in Matthew 12 when Jesus quotes from Proverbs 4, “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Our challenge: Do we fill our minds with the right things? Do we then use our words to encourage, help, and bring LIFE to others?
