From those first words you spoke while in diapers, until today, your day is full of words, and lots of them. No matter who you are, your daily activities are full of one word after another. You use words in school, at work, at home, in your leisure time, and all those times in between. Words. Words. Words. Your world is overflowing with them.
You have words of encouragement to lift your spirits. You have words of love from those closest to you. You have words to either make you laugh or make others laugh. Such pleasant words these are.
Unfortunately, not all words fall into the above positive category. How do you handle words of criticism? You cannot avoid them. Sometimes they even come from those you love the most, which gives the sharpest sting. You experience criticism from time to time. An unknown author says this about criticism: “It is easy to find fault, but hard to find what to do with it.” Think about that for a minute. A lot of people are quick to criticize, but they have no alternative or solution to offer you; they only criticize.
This type of behavior is condemned for the Christian. Notice, the words of Ephesians 4:29 in this regard, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification, according to the need of the moment.” The verse is very specific— “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.” “No,” means exactly what it says—absolutely nothing what-so-ever. No cutting remarks. Next, notice the words that are to come out of your mouth. Words that build up the other person, and only those kinds of words. Finally, the verse gets specific and tells you exactly what kind of positive words to tell someone else; words appropriate for “the moment.” If the words do not apply to the moment, then keep silent. If I may be crude here—Shut up! Only say words of a positive nature that are appropriate for the moment.
Yes, your world is full of words, words, words. Let your words leave the person you are talking to feeling better after your conversation is over.
