“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion that it may give grace to those who hear.”
WORDS ARE POWERFUL.
“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up….”
Our words are so much more than air flowing past our vocal cords. They are powerful instruments that can lead to death or life. They can be poison, or they can be medicine. They can tear down, or they can build up. They can cause pain, or they can bring healing.
There are no morally neutral words. So, as Christians, we must seek to use our words for good, not evil. Our goal must be to build up those around us through the words we speak.
WORDS ARE REVEALING.
Jesus says, "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." So, our words are powerful instruments capable of revealing the state of our hearts. They directly reflect what's inside of us. Our hearts and tongues are never at odds with one another; they work hand in hand.
The words we speak reveal to those around us who we are as a person. They reveal who we belong to. Those who belong to God's kingdom will seek to use their words to build others up, and those who belong to the kingdom of this world will use their words to tear others down.
So, which kingdom do your words show you belong to: God's kingdom or the kingdom of this world?
RIGHT WORDS MATTER
We often dress for the occasion. We don't wear to a wedding what we would wear to a gym, and we don't wear at home what we would wear at work. Although a tuxedo is nice, it's not appropriate to wear in the office.
The same is true with our words. There’s a time to speak, and there’s a time to be quiet. There are things to say, and there are things not to say. The words we speak should “fit the occasion.”
Proverbs 15:28 says, "The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things." So, we should carefully consider our words, striving to speak appropriate words that fit the occasion.
We should consider our hearts and motives, asking, "Why do I want to say what I'm about to say?" We should consider our words, asking, "Are my words correct, true, and seasoned with grace?" We should consider the person we're speaking to, asking, "Will my response here be helpful?"
GRACIOUS WORDS ARE ESSENTIAL.
As we talk, we should strive to “give grace to those who hear.”
If grace is an undeserved gift, then there will undoubtedly be moments when our hearers don't deserve kind words. But, those who have received grace should always be willing to extend grace.
Jesus willingly entered a hostile world and marched to the cross, laying his life down so that "children of wrath" might become "children of God." As recipients of this grace, we ought to be extenders of grace. We should always strive to speak uplifting words to our neighbor, whether they deserve it or not.
NEW HEARTS LEAD TO NEW WORDS.
Our words cannot change our hearts, but our hearts can change our words.
The beauty of the gospel is that, in Christ, God gives each of us a new heart. When we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit moves into our hearts, transforms our hearts and minds, and replaces our heart of stone with a heart of flesh.
So, speaking life-giving words is a byproduct of a relationship with God. We cannot speak grace until we've first experienced grace.