Careful, Well-Chosen Words. How do you talk to those nearest you? It’s easy to save our most careful language for people we hardly know and then speak carelessly and rudely to those you love. The potential for deeply wounding those we love is great.
I once heard a man suggest “rules” that will govern our speech and help our words to build up and grace those nearest us… Here they are the rules:
1.—Let Your Words be Few.
Esteem others as more important than yourself. James said; “Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath…”
“Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.” (Ecclesiastes 5:2, ESV)
2.—Let Your Words be True.
“A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.” (Proverbs 25:18, ESV)
3.—Let Your Words be Gentle.
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Proverbs 15:4, ESV)
4.—Let Your Words be Gracious—Gift Giving.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (Colossians 4:6, ESV)
Our words are a life and death matter. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21, ESV)
Words are powerful. Be careful with them. Always remember, the children are watching and listening to everything we say.
Bittersweet Farm | August 8, 2023