Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
I’m no builder myself, but I do know that buildings don’t build themselves. Just like creation has a Creator, every building has a builder. And the rewards of a nice home or a beautiful church or a well-kept business are the result of much work and many details having been carefully thought through and intricately planned.
However, we’ve all also seen the cool videos of when buildings come completely crashing down to the ground in mere seconds – demolished by the power of dynamite with just the push of a button.
VERBAL DYNOMITE…
This reminds me of the power we have been given with the use of our words, especially within the family. Words are powerful. Words matter. Because just as a building comes crashing down easily, building that same structure takes a whole lot more work and effort.
Words have the ability to build up or to destroy. Building up (edifying) others with our words takes much intentionality and work. It can even take years to establish a sure foundation upon which to build with some people. However, words also have the amazing power to demolish a relationship or destroy years of work and investment in just mere seconds.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Why is it so much easier for us to tear others down with our words than it is to use them to build others up?
REALITY CHECK…
I don’t know about your family, but in ours negativity comes quite naturally. We easily find ways to notice the negative in circumstances and in each other more quickly than we do the positive.
In fact, we’re sometimes good at throwing grenades with our words and then simply walking away without considering the aftermath of our choices. Ever been there?
Recently, we challenged our family to go on a “complaining & arguing fast” for one week (based on the challenge from Philippians 2:14 to ‘Do all things without murmurings and disputings’). Within the first day, we realized that this was going to be harder than any of us realized. LOL.
Our eyes were quickly opened to the negative tendencies of our heart to complain, to argue, and to tear down one another rather than build each other up.
BUT ON A GOOD NOTE…
On the flip side of things, we also recently added a family communications board in our kitchen. I’ve been encouraged as our children have found positive ways to bring life to our home with encouraging comments on the board.
Our daughter Faith, it one of the biggest encouragers to our family through her words. Waking up in the morning to seeing quotes and expressions that edify is motivating and life-giving.
*Shameless Plug* – Our daughter, Faith, also writes her own encouraging music at “Music of Faith” on YouTube. Check it out and even subscribe if you like what you hear. You can encourage our encourager :). Or you can simply hear one of her songs, Always By My Side, by clicking here.
How about in your home? Are words being used to build one another up or tear one another down?
One is certainly easier than the other. But it’s also the one that is the most destructive. However, what if your family words could actually serve to build something beautiful in your home – a place where you are each other’s biggest encouragers and strongest supporters?
In what practical ways could you increase the positive words in your home while decreasing the negative ones? And what could happen if your words started edifying and ministering grace to each other?
I think that’s a home that all of us would desire. Family words matter!
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
