Watch Your Mouth!

David Eldridge

Did your parents ever tell you to “watch your mouth” as you were growing up? Jesus shares in that message in Matthew 12:37. He said, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Our words can either make us right or make us wrong. So, we ought to be careful that we say the right things and watch our mouth. Paul, in Ephesians 4:29, commands, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Let us consider these two types of words.

Corrupting words. One type of speech that will condemn us is corrupting speech. To corrupt is to tear and break down. When we say things to tear others down we are in error. Corrupting words would be gossiping, lying, hurtful, divisive, condescending, and mean-spirited speech among other things. The Christian should not be involved in such. Corrupting words do not come from a love, but rather from a selfish, unloving heart. In our speaking to one another, let us not tear each other down.

Edifying words. Paul, having commanded us to refrain from corrupting speech, states we should then speak those things which will edify (build up) one another. These are, in part, the words which justify us. We all need encouragement in this life and we use can our words to provide this for others. We need to be “slow to speak” considering the words we use when talking to others so that those words may edify them.

Heed the warning of the children’s song when it says, “Oh, be careful little mouth what you say” and speak in the right way to one another.