Well, after a little over two years of silence, I'm finally posting! (I'm the worst blogger ever)
Lately I've been greatly convicted about my speech and what results from it.
Let me start here... I work in construction. And as everyone knows, on the job site, sometimes conversations can go downhill. While it may be funny, or even downright hilarious at times, one must stop and think: "why do we say these things"? Are we trying to get a laugh? Are we attempting to earn the approval of peers in some way? Are we just being foolish? I admit that I fall into "unwholesome" conversation occasionally while at work and I'll even encourage the continuation of such conversations just to get a laugh. I love to laugh. But is it okay to laugh at this stuff? "I mean, everyone else thinks it's funny." "There aren't any ladies on the job site." "I would never say this stuff in polite company." These are all things I tell myself to justify laughing at such talk. Now, before I go on, this "unwholesome" talk is few and far between at work and I'm greatly blessed to work with wonderful Christian men. We have some amazing conversations and have a great time together. That being said, Ephesians 4:29 says:
Lately I've been greatly convicted about my speech and what results from it.
Let me start here... I work in construction. And as everyone knows, on the job site, sometimes conversations can go downhill. While it may be funny, or even downright hilarious at times, one must stop and think: "why do we say these things"? Are we trying to get a laugh? Are we attempting to earn the approval of peers in some way? Are we just being foolish? I admit that I fall into "unwholesome" conversation occasionally while at work and I'll even encourage the continuation of such conversations just to get a laugh. I love to laugh. But is it okay to laugh at this stuff? "I mean, everyone else thinks it's funny." "There aren't any ladies on the job site." "I would never say this stuff in polite company." These are all things I tell myself to justify laughing at such talk. Now, before I go on, this "unwholesome" talk is few and far between at work and I'm greatly blessed to work with wonderful Christian men. We have some amazing conversations and have a great time together. That being said, Ephesians 4:29 says:
"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."
This instruction doesn't give us any leeway. It does not say "Try not to let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths" it says "Do not let ANY...". This is a high standard for us as Christians. And though we will fail sometimes, it doesn't mean we shouldn't strive our hardest to live up to this standard. Not only avoiding "unwholesome talk" but also speaking "what is helpful for building others up". What if every time we were about to say something "unwholesome", we stopped and replaced it with something uplifting? It sounds sappy, but it doesn't have to be. If we make it a deliberate habit to say encouraging things, uplifting things, happy things, lovely things, imagine what a difference that would make!
I pray that God, as He shapes me into the man He wills me to be, will cause me to train my tongue to speak only what is pleasing to Him and uplifting to others, "that it may benefit those who listen".
Well, that's it until next year! (kidding) Maybe I'll be more faithful to post stuff on here. :)
God Bless,
Chris
