Tag Archives: language

day 1991: Watch What You Say!

“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”

What comes out of our mouth is a tremendous force.  Everyday we read and talk of people who say things that they wish they had never said.  Words are spoken that cause people to resign from their jobs, move aside, lose support and employees, and harm relationships, perhaps irrevocably.  So, what are we to do?  We can train, role play, counsel and discipline.  And, we should do all of the above, but the most powerful action we can take is to be sure that the people at the top of the organization, start right now, today, monitoring and controlling their own words.  As that happens, a new tone will be set.

So many times we read Ephesians and focus on “foul” language and gloss over the term “abusive”.  We must be more than careful about this because abusive words can be spoken out loud, not sound like they are abusive to those listening, except to the one who hears the word directed at them with a meaning that is formed by years of experiences.  With the slightest of words, we can hurt those who are closest to us, and that can be abusive to them.  So, while our words may not be foul, they can still be abusive and we must be cognizant and sensitive as we go about doing our best to bring glory to God through the lives we daily live.

Reference: Ephesians 4:29 (New Living Translation)