The Use of the Tongue

DEVOTION

THE LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS

THE USE OF THE TONGUE

Eph 4:29-32

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

NIV

The more direct translation is to not let anything rotten come out of your mouths. The Greek word could be used as worthless as well, both could fit the context as they are opposed to what would be helpful for building others up according to their needs. So then the rotten or worthless talk tears others down. This would have to include gossip as well as improper judgmental criticism coming from an attitude of superiority. It is scriptural to give correction or to go to a brother who is caught in a sin, but that is a whole different concept and that would be covered under what is helpful according to their needs. But this rotten talk, this backbiting, gossip, this rumor mill that operates within the church only destroys the body, tears it apart and thus would be considered sin. We need to make sure nothing rotten comes out of our mouths. But we also should see we need to make sure we speak words of encouragement, words that build others up. This would require us not to think more highly of ourselves then we should. How can we build others up, if we think so highly of ourselves? Speaking what is useful, beneficial, to others according to their needs could be done through preaching the word. It could also be done through the written word. But it could also be done through a one on one conversation. The point is as people have needs, such as feeling discouraged or having some other emotional hurt which is weighing heavily upon them, we can give words of encouragement, enlightenment, to help them through their hour of need. This rotten talk grieves the Holy Spirit, according to the context of this instruction. The comment about not grieving the Spirit is followed by what does grieve him and it is a list, and maybe not as comprehensive as it could, of what is rotten talk, which comes from the condition of the heart. Bitterness, rage, anger, brawling, slander and every form of malice. The opposite of all those kinds of attitudes and behaviors is being kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other. It doesn’t seem we, the church, are very good at following this advice or command from God. That is not in judgment of others or self, it is simply what we observe. How can we change? Why do we still speak rotten words when we know we should not? We get caught up before we know it and out comes something that should not. No, we have to be more cognizant, more sensitive to the Spirit and speak words of kindness, and compassion towards others, words that encourage them in the Spirit, in their walk with Christ, words that lift them up, build them up, giving them confidence and courage. At the same time, we have to make sure we are always forgiving in our attitude toward others. How can we not forgive since we have been forgiven by Christ? Our words are so important, let us be vigilant in the use of our tongue.