Words DO Matter

by Darla Noble

Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29

I have a friend who would cut her foot off before she’d say anything negative about someone. It’s just not in her DNA to do that. She always finds something nice to say about everyone no matter what. It’s a gift. And it’s one I’ve benefitted from on several occasions.

If I start to complain about someone’s attitude, she reminds me that I don’t know their heart and that their biting words or attitude might be a cry for help. If I start to say something about someone she stops me and asks if I would finish what I am about to say if that person were with us. And if I do actually say something negative about someone, she asks how I would feel if someone said the same thing (or something similar) about me?

Nancy isn’t being bossy and she’s not trying to be the ‘gossip police’. She simply refuses to dishonor God by being part of a conversation that speaks negatively about someone He took the time to create. She’s not naïve, though. She understands there are people in this world that are evil and that have given themselves over to Satan. But rather than dwell on who they are, she chooses to see them as equally loved by God and in need of God’s redeeming grace.

I guess it could be said that everyone needs a friend like Nancy, but the truth of the matter is that everyone does have a friend like Nancy. That friend is God’s Word, the Bible. And today’s verse is a reminder to use words to build rather than demolish.

Prayer: God, Help me take all my thoughts captive, as you say we should in 2nd Corinthians 10:5 so that I will not speak unkindly or untruthfully about anyone. Let my words be words You would speak. In the name of Jesus, I pray, amen.