What Do You Say?
Ephesians 4:29 “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.”
It is so easy to let words fly off our tongues and spew out of our mouths unchecked and unthought of…. We are all guilty of this, and I often – more than most. The above verse hit me like a semi skidding into a jackknifed position against oncoming traffic! Why? Well, I have noticed a terrible trend among believers today – with the need to stand up and speak truth, we have forgotten the need to “be gentle and patient, able to teach – even when we have been wronged.” And, for some ungodly reason, we feel it is a right to fly off the handle without regard of the damage it does to those listening – not just the one who needed a good stern rebuke, but the on listeners that are in earshot of the conversations.
So we understand what is meant here by Paul, as the Lord led him, through the Holy Spirit to write to the Ephesians, here are the definitions of some terms in the above verse:
Corrupt Communication = rotten – worthless – putrefied thoughts – talk – topics – reasoning – motives – expressions
Building Up = architecture, structure, confirmation, edifying
That it May Give = ministers – brings forth – delivers – yields
Building up or building in general has a few steps. For instance, a plan needs to be made. Then the materials need to be collected. Of course, you begin to lay the groundwork and the foundation. If a brick, block, or board is off or wrong, it needs removed. Then a resuming of building commences. Along the way, one needs to inspect and check and recheck each angle, each measurement, each level needs assessed. And there is an order of each step, or you get ahead of the building process and things get out of whack.
Same goes for the right kind of discourses and discussions. There are times to lay the foundation, to check the materials, to take out the mismeasurements of terms and premises, and certainly the tones and motives. Some edifying means some correcting and confrontation that will build back the right way and set the right direction.
I think you get the picture. So, what should we do then and how should we say what needs said? It is rather simple – if it lines up with the Scriptures, the Truth and the Holy Spirit – then say it in a grace giving way…. And if it comes from anything else – don’t say it.
Besides, this passage goes along with a parallel Scripture that is even more pointed:
Ephesians 5:3-4 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
So – let’s consider what we say and not speak carelessly, let’s say what needs said and avoid what doesn’t and remember to be holy in our conversation and not horrid with our mouth – after all, what we say, says a lot about our hearts…. And some things just should not be said, let alone thought and harbored like a ship in our hearts.
By Jesus’ Grace,
Pastor Daren