Words

(Ephesians 4:29)

“I tend to speak directly, but my actions are not the same. When I’m with close people, I sometimes complain or talk about others. But you seem to take it more seriously than I do.”

1. To Be Careful
As we live our faith lives, there are times when we unintentionally say things that harm the virtue of the church. While we might not think much of those words, God takes them very seriously. The Lord speaks to us through Paul’s heart, saying, “Let not 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).

2. To Become Tools for Satan
When words are used as weapons, they are far more destructive than any other weapon in the world. Therefore, we must be cautious to ensure that our words are not abused by Satan. Satan can use our words to cause trouble in the church, provoke division, or even scheme its destruction. To avoid being swayed by such matters, we must not only refrain from speaking words that harm others, spread malicious rumors, or sow discord, but we must also ensure that we do not unknowingly become hosts, nurturing and protecting these destructive words.

3. To Edify the Church
Thankfully, our words can play a vital role in building up God’s Kingdom. For this, we should use words that edify, are appropriate according to the need of the moment, and convey grace. We must discard words that rob people of their joy, cause them to lose courage, or hinder the work the church is striving to accomplish. Instead, we should use words that express gratitude, exalt the Lord’s honor, and warm the hearts of those weary from the world. God will not only repay us for all the deeds we have done for His Kingdom but also for every word that comes out of our mouths.

Overseer Sung-Hyun Kim