The wise man wrote, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs18:21) He meant that our words possess the power to heal hearts or destroy lives.
The apostle Paul stressed that we should use our tongues to help or encourage others – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Eph. 4:29)
Conversely, James repeatedly warned us against using our tongues to hurt, demean or disgrace others - “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law.” (James 4:11)
It will help immensely if we avoid beginning a sentence with any of the following:
- “I just heard that so & so…”
- “I was told by trustworthy sources that so & so…”
- “I think it’s terrible that so & so…”
- “Just between us, so & so…”
- “Don’t tell anyone else, but so & so…”
- “This may not be true, but I understand that so & so…”
- “I probably shouldn’t be saying this, but so & so…”
- “Rumor has it that so & so…”
- “I would never have dreamed that so & so…”
Jesus, always Jesus!
Dennis