Rotting Words

Probably nothing is more disgusting than pulling something out of the fridge and finding it covered with green, fuzzy, smelly stuff! What makes it even worse is that you were just thinking about eating it!
The Bible says that there is a type of speech that can be characterized as “rotting words.” Ephesians 4:29 says, “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.” The phrase “corrupt communication” gives the idea of “rotting words.”
Rotting words are the opposite of words that are good for “edifying” and “ministering grace to the hearers.” As Christians, our speech is to build up those who hear it. It should be an example of the love and kindness we demonstrate to others on a regular basis. Anything we say that does not build up those around us is rotting speech and should never even come out of our mouths.
In other words, nothing should come out of our mouths that does not build others up in the Lord. What a great test to apply to anything we are about to say! Before we say something, we ought to ask ourselves, “Will this build up others and help them grow in the Lord?” If we have to answer no, then it would be sinful for us to say it.
This is an area our youth group would do well to work on. Many things are said between teens that may seem funny and make people laugh— even the person who was the butt of the joke! But those things are like deep wounds: they hurt for a long time. In just a few minutes, with a couple rotting words, we can do great harm! The Bible says the tongue is full of vicious, deadly poison (Jas 3:8). We cannot allow anything that does not build up others out of our mouths.

Foolish Words

Ever say something stupid? Ever wish you could have something you said back? Ever talk on the phone for an hour and say nothing? Believe it or not, the Bible commands us not to say foolish things.
Ephesians 5:3–4 says, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.” In this verse, Paul commands believers not to speak foolishly.
It’s also amazing to me that in a list with immorality, greed, filthiness, and dirty jokes comes “foolish talking.” The verse says foolish talking is “not convenient,” or better, it is inappropriate for a Christian. I can understand why all those bad things are inappropriate for a Christian to do, but what’s so bad about saying dumb things?
There are two important things to remember: first, sinful speech almost always comes from a mouth that is talking too much. A prolific, careless, tongue is bound to end up sinning. Proverbs 10:19 says, “In the multitude of words there wanteth [lacks] not sin; but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” If you want to avoid sinning with your tongue, rule number one: talk less!
Second, notice what the verse advocates instead of foolish talking: “giving of thanks.” When our mouths are giving God praise and glory for what he has done and what he has given us, we will be much less likely to sin with our words.
This hits close to home for us because our youth group often engages in foolish, meaningless, useless talking. There’s nothing wrong with having fun and relaxing, but let’s remember that foolish talking is inappropriate for believers. What characterizes your speech? Is it usually “foolish talking” or is it “giving of thanks”?

Idle Words

Ever say something and then realize what you just said? Has anybody ever asked you about something you said and you can’t even remember saying it? It is estimated that we speak between ten and twenty thousand words each day— more or less, depending on just how chatty you are. Do you keep track of all those words? What if someone called you on the carpet about everything you say in just one day? What about your whole life? Would that be scary or what?
Imagine that person is God who knows perfectly everything you have said! Jesus said in Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, ‘That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.’” We are responsible for every thing that comes out of our mouths! Every idle word! Not just the things we think about and say carefully, but every idle word.
I think there are two important lessons we should learn from this verse. First, what we say is important. It matters to God. We are responsible for what we say. Often we think that words are unimportant. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”— no, words do matter. What we say is important and we are accountable to God for what we say.
The second thing to learn is that we can control what our mouths say. When I think about giving an account of every idle word, my reaction is sheer terror: how in the world can I avoid saying sinful things? The previous verse, Matthew 12:35, tells us that what we say comes out of our hearts. Have you ever started to speak and when you realized what you were going to say you were appalled? Maybe you wondered, “Where did that come from?” Jesus said that our words come from our hearts. What we think about and treasure in our hearts will give birth to our “idle words.”
The only way to control our words is to protect our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.” Guard your heart. Be careful about what you let in, what you dwell on, what you daydream about, what you treasure. Your heart will affect your words, and you will give an account to God for every idle word.

The Reason for the Season

“He made himself of no reputation

and took upon him the form of a servant,

and was made in the likeness of men:

and being found in fashion as a man,

he humbled himself,

and became obedient unto death,

even the death of the cross.”

Philippians 2:7–8

Each Christmas, we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus Christ. The “reason for the season” is the birth of Jesus, God taking on human flesh. Yet the significance of this act escapes us. Jesus Christ, Almighty God, humbled himself and took on humanity. Jesus Christ, the sovereign God of eternity, the Creator of the universe, was obedient to his Father. He was born in poverty, lived in loneliness and rejection, and obeyed the Father’s will completely to death. He did not just die of natural causes; no, he died “a cross death”—the ultimate excruciating, humiliating death. He was obedient throughout all of the things he suffered, gaining eternal salvation for us.
How pathetic our behavior at Christmas must seem to him! We rush around busily, full of self, greed, and pride, thinking of no one but ourselves, ignoring others in our hurry—all this to celebrate the supreme act of humility and obedience to God! This Christmas, may the mind of Christ be found in us who bear his name.