According to the Need of the Moment

The apostle Paul wrote of the importance of encouragement in our speech. In Colossians 4:6 he said, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” This is not an admonition to use “salty speech” (i.e. profanity) as some among us are want to do. Salt, as it is used here, would have the same meaning as it does in Matthew 5:13 where Jesus tells us that His disciples are the “salt of the earth.” In other words, it is good for the earth that Christians are a part of it. Our speech should reflect that fact. It should be good for others to be in our company and hear our speech.

In Ephesians 4:29 Paul commanded that no “unwholesome” word be spoken by us. That means that nothing “unwholesome,” or “corrupt,” or “filthy” should come out of our mouths. Obviously, this would apply to profanity. However, profane words are not the only corrupt, filthy and unwholesome communication we can use. Words that bite are filthy. Words that criticize (not constructive and positive criticism, but negative and destructive criticism) and words that teach others to criticize are unwholesome and corrupt speech and should be purged from our minds and mouths. It breaks my heart to hear adults criticize something in someone else and reason that the offending person has impure motives and just wanted offend, as though it was done “just to make me mad!” And when adults offer this kind of criticism in the presence of their children or grandchildren, another generation learns to do the same. That is why Paul said, “Do not let it come out of your mouth!”

The positive alternative is in the same verse (Ephesians 4:29). Rather than filthy communication, use speech that is good for edification. That means language that builds others up rather than tearing them down. We said earlier that being salt means that it is good for the world that we are here. Seasoning our speech with salt that builds means that it is good for those around us to hear what we are saying. Spreading the Gospel message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ is certainly included, but a simple “Thank you” is just as salty! Try it sometime (no, all the time). The next time you are sitting in traffic in the left turn lane and there is a little old lady in the car in front of you and the green arrow comes on and she doesn’t see it and just sits there, try something new. Instead of imagining that she is just callous and rude and doesn’t care that if you don’t get to McDonald’s at precisely 10:30 they won’t have any sausage biscuits left and you blow a gasket between your ears in frustration, try imagining that she has a lot on her mind and needs your patience more than she needs your horn going off in her ears. Try the same thing the next time you have the opportunity to speak to someone who has been rude to you or has given you an opportunity to speak evil or good. Weigh the need of the moment and then speak something that edifies and not something that hurts. What you will find is that the healing and the edification happen to you as much and maybe more than to the one you have blessed with your salty speech.

I know that there are times when constructive criticism is necessary and there are many times when we are too afraid of it to use it and damage is done because we did not criticize. However, for today I want us to concentrate on not being destructively critical of others, but being edifying in our speech and conduct. God loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates