What Does Your Speech Say About You?

​Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.  NASB
 
Eph 4:29 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  NKJV

• Paul's Instructions 

Our speech should be beneficial to the hearer. Paul says our speech should be seasoned. In other words, as salt adds flavor to the meal we are eating so should our speech add flavor to our discussion. 
 
The Bible tells us our speech should not be used to gossip about someone, nor should we use our mouths to slander another person. As my mother taught me and I am sure many of my readers were taught the same thing: "If you don't have something good to say about that person then say nothing at all."
 
It is better to say nothing at all then to sin by gossiping or slandering the person. 

• Jesus' Instructions 

Matt 12:34-37 - "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.  35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.  36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.  37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."   NASU
 
Your character is revealed by how you speak. Jesus explicitly states that what you are saying is coming from what is in your heart. Is your speech used to build someone up or edify them? Or is your speech used to defame someone's character?
 
I have had people ask me where in the Bible it says cussing or using profanity is wrong. I generally would use Eph. 4:29 used above as a reference for why people should not use profanity. Although, Jesus does say, "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  
 
My question would be is your profanity justifying you or condemning you? 

• Jesus' Example 

Peter informs his readers that while Jesus was hanging on the cross He was leaving us an example. He was totally innocent of any wrong doing and yet He was being crucified. People were yelling and reviling Him with some very ugly comments and through it all Peter say, "nor was any deceit found in His mouth".
 
1 Pet 2:21-23 - For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;… NASU
 
Jesus took the high road. He didn't curse at them. He didn't call them names or threaten them. He simply prayed Father forgive them and yield up His spirit. 

• The Archangel Michael's Example 

Jude 9- But Michael  the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!"
 
Michael didn't get into a word battle with the devil. He dismissed the devil with "The Lord Rebuke you."
 
If someone is trying to get you into a word battle, do yourself a favor and take the "high road". Simply say "The Lord Rebuke you" and walk away.
 
Think About These:
 
Many a good idea has been smothered to death by words.
 
Actions speak louder than words and are just as apt to be misinterpreted.
 
Superior to a kind thought is a kind word; better than both is a kind deed.

Stay Pumped,
 
Gary A. Serago

​Minister of God's Word