Saying What Needs to Be Said (part 3)

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.Eph 4:29 (NIV)

That it may benefit those who listen.......
Truth always needs to be spoken. That's established in verse 25. Like it or not, truth is always beneficial to us. We need to be willing to speak it and receive it. We need to be people wanting to hear the truth. Sometimes the benefit comes through truthful speech we would rather not have to hear. We all need to correct and adjust our lives at times according to the mirror (scripture).

If we pay attention to Jesus we get to see this "benefit to those who listen" in action.

Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
Matt 18:3 (NRSV)

Now this is something that the disciples needed to hear for their own benefit, but I'm sure it wasn't easy to hear. Scripture is full of examples of beneficial speech.

We know that Jesus had their best interest at heart. That's what it's going to take for us as well, loving one another just as Christ loved us. When we do this we will not wound one another with our our speech. We will build one another up according to the needs we have.

Here's a good gauge. If what you're getting ready to say only tears a person down without building them up....not good. If what you're getting ready to say has been thought out and designed to speak to the needs of the person (in love) and it build the person up....that's good!

Say what you need to say.....be like Jesus!

more to come.....................

Deny