Listening to the Words

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths;

but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs,

that it may benefit those who listen.

 

There are many things that can be interpreted and interjected into our lives about this particular verse.  The obvious things that come to my mind are being a potty mouth and talking like a sailor.  I know it isn’t proper, right or even pretty- yet, I cuss sometimes. Since I started meditating and praying more and asking the Holy Spirit to help me with this particular thing, I feel instant remorse when something comes out of my mouth that has any type of intent. I used to tell myself that saying an “alternative word” was a better solution.  In reality, not having the intent behind my word has become more important to me than just replacing one expletive with a lighter, more family friendly version.

Another obvious tid-bit is to make sure your words are helpful to build others up, according to their needs. It’s self-explanatory really. Building each other up and being more positive than negative in nature has major impact for some. On occasion all a person needs is for someone else to smile and say it’s going to be ok.  Those glass half full folks are so important, and their words are full of encouragement, love and consistent support. Someone who intentionally chooses their words can be such a blessing to others.  Using this ability to minister to the needs of those around us on a day to day basis is an amazing witness for Christ.

The part of the scripture I am most focused on is the “that it may benefit those who would listen” part.

Sometimes, the things we say and write are meant for a specific audience God has already chosen.  On occasion, the words are intentional and well planned out- easy to read, digest and savor. People have an easy time relating to our experience, our story, and it is soothing for them to read something so common and ordinary. It feels safe to read, safe to share and safe to talk about and mull over.  It’s like a hot cup of coffee, with some creamy goodness mixed in, warm in our hands in our favorite mug.

Then there are the not so easy days, when the words we have heard or read are hard for us. When the truth is not what we would like it to be. We find out people have disappointed us in some fashion. We realize our decision was not a good one at all. We get caught up in something we are sorry for later. We second guess our decisions. We are hurt, because we do not understand where the words come from, or why this is all happening. So we turn it off; we stop listening.

When we stop listening because something is so very hard, we stop learning, caring and sharing.  We shut off an important part of ourselves by not acknowledging the truths that have been hidden from us for so long. Even when the truth has nothing to do with us, we are offended and defensive, all at once.

Jesus knew there would be people who would hear him, but not listen to him. He knew there would be words of his which would fall on deaf ears. He sat in the towns, on the hillsides, even in a boat, and he told his story anyway. He knew fear, unknown truths and bad decisions would pave the way for more than one potential listener to turn away and question his motives. He watched the rich young ruler walk away, sad from what he was told. He saw the indignant look in the eyes of many when he spoke at the stoning of the woman. He felt the stares and heard the chants when he was chosen to replace Barabbas.  Yet he still asked his father to have mercy for them, because they didn’t know what they were doing.

Words can be powerful; they can change a persons’ life. When a story is shared and you stop listening, you may miss out on the bigger picture. Maybe the words weren’t meant for you at all, and you are just meant to share the message to benefit someone else. Or, maybe if you still think about it later, they actually were written just for you all along. If we stop listening, how will we ever know?