Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”
I wonder how many of us consider whether or not our words minister grace unto the hearers? This type of speech puts the hearer first and the speaker second. We don’t like to be in second place, that is why we often disobey God’s commands.
While our concern ought to be for the edification of the hearer, we are too often more interested in making our thoughts or feelings heard. We get our point across and let the chips fall where they may, instead of carefully considering whether or not our “point” is even needed. Some of the most corrupt, non-edifying, non-graceful words we will ever say will turn out to have been (in the final analysis) totally unnecessary.
If we were to examine things carefully, I think we would find some of the most articulate and Godly communicators around put a high premium on silence. If that which we have a desire to say will not bring the kind of good this passage suggests, silence, will in fact be the very best option.
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”