Monday Morning

"... unwholesome talk ..."

"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." -- Ephesians 4:29

"unwholesome", the KJV Bible translate as "corrupt". 
Webster's definition of unwholesome: detrimental (tending to cause harm) to physical, mental, or moral well-being; corrupt (rotten, decaying, worthless, dirty, foul)

So, what does "unwholesome talk" cover? It covers things said that cause harm -- can we add gossip and  slander? It covers things said that are foul and dirty -- can we add off color jokes and foul language? It covers things said that are worthless -- can we add opinions that really do not matter? It covers things said that are detrimental -- can we add things said to intend hurt towards others and just plain rudeness?

This scripture tells us that what comes out of our mouths should be helpful for building up because people are listening.  We encourage -- we do not discourage. We lift-up -- we do not put-down. We do not gossip -- and we put a stop to it when it is trying to be passed on. We choose not to express ourselves with foul or dirty language. We choose not to be rude. We choose not to say hurtful things. We choose to keep some opinions unspoken.

I will also add: This applies to your thoughts, too. Words come to us by our thought processes. We think them before we speak them.  Now I will say that some are pretty fast on the draw and you may wonder if they ever put those words through a thought process.  Have you ever said to yourself, "Wish I had never said that."? Then you know what I am talking about.

Bottom Line: May the words of your mouth, the talk that comes out -- be wholesome and clean and uplifting and encouraging. And, may we remember these words from David: "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer." Psalm 19:14  -- Amen? Amen.