The Royal Order of Edifiers: Part Three

The Lord is at work “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body” (Ephesians 4: 12).

“Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth.”

Perhaps by translating the Greek word for “corrupt” as “toxic” we might better understand it.

You need not only be careful what you say but where you say it. Solomon wisely said, “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from trouble” (Proverbs 21: 23).

An ageless axiom states: “Four things come not back: the spoken word, the sped arrow, the past life, and the neglected opportunity.”

We are very adept at exonerating and exempting ourselves. May the words of this message slip by the defenses of your mind and explode with reason therein.

The Scripture warns against slander. The Greek word translated “slander” literally means “devils,” or “diabolical.” There is no characteristic so unbecoming of a Christian as to deserve the title “devilish” as that of a slanderer.

The word means a gossip, defamer, one who smears, back-bites, or slurs another.

As an adolescent my Mom gave me a little hand written note which I kept in my wallet until I wore it out. It contained this great truth that has influenced my life: “A soft answer turns away wrath.”

Let all corrupt speech die under the holy breath of God.

We are to speak “what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (James 3: 29).

This is an appeal to let your tongue be sacred to what edifies.

Be careful in talking to or about youth. Build them up. Infants have confidence in their parents, grandparents, and others close to them. What they hear influences them dramatically. They tend to want to live up to what those they love say about them. If they hear negatives they come to believe them.”You are stupid” results in stupid conduct. “You are a bad boy” results in bad behavior.

Conversely, positive reinforcement results in good behavior.

One of the four things noted earlier that do not come back is “the neglected opportunity.” Don’t miss an opportunity to build up someone —– anyone.

You build people up by encouraging them to be their best and do their best at everything.

God does not require us to be the best at anything. He desires us to do our best at everything. Build people up to become and be their best for Christ. Christ did it.

He did it for little children by instructing His disciples to let them come to Him.

He did it for the woman caught in adultery by telling her she was forgiven and to go and sin no more.

He did it for Simon Peter after Peter’s denial by giving him the assignment to feed His sheep.

As Jesus’ proxy resolves to edify others, build them up.