God continues to work on our speech. It’s a really big deal to speak life. Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Ephesians speak about this.
And, the opposite of not speaking life is foolishness. Ruin, death and all kinds of bad stuff come with that package.
As I study this verse, something really stands out.
- It is wisdom to know what to say in a situation.
- There is grace (power) to perform your words when you do. The situation will change because of it.
So, we need not speak death into a circumstance or person. That includes criticism and backbiting. Those are hard words because it is easy to complain about things but difficult to call things as though they were. But, grace comes with the calling forth.
God, I need help here.
Ephesians 4:29
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
29 Let no unwholesome (rotten) word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification (building up) according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
According to the need of the moment: how do you know what to say? It is wisdom.
It will give grace. Power will come from the word spoken through wisdom that builds up (brings life) rather than death, which tears down, brings ruin and is called foolishness.
I need this wisdom.