Are My Words Helpful or Hurtful?

Studies have indicated that on average, the human being speaks well over 450,000,000 words over the course of a lifetime. This is an especially alarming statistic when we couple this with something that Jesus told those following Him:

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37).

How sobering is that? Jesus makes it very clear that a large part of what identifies us as citizens of God's kingdom is the way we use our words. Paul states:

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt..." (Colossians 4:6).

James calls the tongue a fire because of its destructive force and ability to spread quickly and damage.

"And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell" (James 3:6).

Often times, once the words we use causes its damage, it is difficult, if not impossible, to put out. This is why it is always advisable to ask ourselves, "what is my motivation?" before speaking. We should always strive to discern whether or not our words are going to be an encouragment or discouragment. Are my words beneficial or detrimental to others?

Here are some ways, hopefully, that we can make sure our words are more on the "helpful" side:

• Speak in such a way that carries the potential to win souls.
• Intend to be an enouragment to others........even in those times when you might not like what they are doing. Remember we can still encourage someone without condoning what they might be doing.
• If our intentions are sincere, that will usually show itself by the way we choose our words.
• Try to speak in a way that is consistent with Christian principles. If we speak in a manner that is unbecoming (cursing, taking the Lord's name in vain, lying, etc...), then we lose our influence altogether.
• Avoid gossip at all costs. In fact, don't even listen to it. Too often, all it does is facilitate our natural tendencies to be critical.
• Avoid being overly critical and judgmental. It is one thing to point out sin when it is staring us in the face. It is quite another to spend our time and energy on a role that God never gave us to begin with.

According to Paul, part of the defintion of love in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is that it makes every effort to believe the best about others. Perhaps if we can learn to accentuate the positive more than the negative, it will help our words to be more helpful than hurtful. Looking for what is wrong in others is not hard to do. There is no skill in that. It is easy because we all fall short; which is actually why we need to be more of an encourgment to each other in the first place.

Have a great day today!