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As the proverb says, “Nice words for nice words,” we surely need to use correct and gentle words in order not to hear harsh words from others, and get along well with other people in our daily life.
It is said that God created us with two ears and only one mouth so that we should listen twice as much as we speak. In many parts of the Bible, God has given us teachings about how to speak.
Now we need to take off our old self that pursued worldly desires and insisted on our own opinions, and should change into God’s beautiful children whom our Heavenly Father and Mother want us to be, following Their teachings. While praying a lot, we must resemble God’s nature that is generous, merciful and gentle, so that we can lead many people around us to salvation as wise children of God.
Lay aside all malice and speak what is good and helpful
Those who live according to the flesh are often likely to get into an argument or quarrel at the end of their talk. The Bible repeatedly emphasizes that we should speak only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs; for we come to commit wrong if we do not keep a tight rein on our tongues.
“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.Eph 4:26-32
In our daily life, sometimes we may get angry. However, we should not hold on to our anger but release it as soon as possible, so we can say what is helpful without letting unwholesome words come out of our mouths. If we have malice, we cannot say what benefits those who listen.
If we want to say what is good for edification and what gives grace to those who hear, we need to have a kind, compassionate and forgiving heart like that of God. It is God’s will that we, children of God, should put away all malice and possess the mind of Christ who is good and merciful. God’s people, who have received the good news and been taught by God, must be different from the people of the world.
We are now changing into new creatures by putting the teachings of Heavenly Father and Mother into practice. So, we must follow the will of God with all our heart. God earnestly wants His children not to say any unwholesome word, but only what is good and helpful for building others up according to their needs, so that we do not commit sin again.
… And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.Col 4:2-6
Just as we season a dish with a proper amount of salt to make it more delicious, we should let our conversation be full of grace and wisdom, in order to maintain good relationships with people around us.
On the big national holidays when every family comes together, we often see an arguement or quarrel occur among the family members due to an unwholesome talk, which destroys the festive atmosphere. Most people who do not have hope for heaven usually talk about worldly things. So, during conversation, if one of the family members utters some offensive or boastful words by comparing himself or herself with others, the rest feel bad and it causes trouble among them. On the contrary, the members of Zion only speak beautiful and humble words to their family members when they visit their hometown on the holidays. There are many cases where the members have led their family to God by touching their hearts through gracious words. When we follow the teachings of God in faith, God even saves our family and relatives.
Those who reap eternal life from the Spirit
Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.Gal 6:6-10
Since it is written, “A man reaps what he sows,” if we sow evil words, we will reap evil fruit; and if we sow good words, we will reap good fruit. It is the same when we meet our family, relatives and neighbors. If we sow what is physical in their hearts, from it we will reap a perishable fruit; and if we sow the Spirit in the fields of their hearts with earnest prayers for their salvation, from it we will reap the fruits of eternal life and everlasting joy and pleasure.
Keeping in mind the words, “A man reaps what he sows,” we should speak what is good and helpful whenever we meet our family and neighbors; particularly, we should tell them the word of life from God. Some may not receive the word of life right away, but if we do not give up on them but continue to tell them the good news, the seed of God’s word will take root and grow in their hearts, and there will be time for us to harvest.
“There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”Jn 12:48-50
Let us boldly speak what God has told us. God has commanded us to hear the word He speaks and give people warning from Him, and has given us the opportunities to receive His blessings. “Save souls through the words full of grace, seasoned with salt!” Believing that this command of God leads to eternal life, we should make every effort to lead many souls to repentance, so that we may offer the fruits of gratitude and joy to God.
Those who reap destruction from their sinful nature
When we preach the word of God, we sometimes hear people speak to us arrogantly with contempt. Nevertheless, we should not respond to them using harsh words. Even if people say evil words against us, we should have a broad mind to understand them and bear the situation.
Going one step forward, we should tell them the good news of salvation and eternal life with touching and gracious words. When they speak evil words against us, if we respond to them with harsh words, it doesn’t please God. Those who sow ungodly acts and impetuous words will receive eternal punishment from God.
… “See, the LORD is coming … to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.”Jude 1:14-16
Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to … Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.1 Ti 5:13-15
In the Early Church, too, there were some people who got into the habit of being idle and learned to be gossips and busybodies, saying things they should not. The Bible says that such people finally turn away to follow Satan. So, we should be more careful with our words. It is also written that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken (Mt 12:36-37).
As we see in the Bible, if a man gets angry, out of his mouth comes words unwholesome, ungracious and unworthy in the sight of God. It is because the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart (Mt 12:34). In the desert history of the Israelites, too, the people who spoke words of complaint were all destroyed.
Before we say something, let’s think more than three times whether what we are about to say is “what we can say” or “what we ought not to.” Our seniors who lived before us say this is the wisdom of life. We”d better not say “what we ought not to.” There is a warning that those who speak what they ought not to will lose the truth of God in the end.
If anyone teaches false doctrines and does not agree to the sound instruction of our LORD Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions and constant friction between men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.1 Ti 6:3-5
The instructions about speaking are also part of the godly teaching which Christ has given us. If we ignore Christ’s teaching that we should use good and gracious words, and do not strive to put it into practice, we will eventually be robbed of the truth and enter into eternal destruction.
A man reaps what he sows
We, the people of Zion, are still not perfect and stumble in many ways, so we often happen to offend our brothers and sisters with our words. We should hold on to the teachings of God all the more and prevent such an ungracious thing from occurring.
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.Jas 3:2-6
Just as a small spark can burn down a whole house or a great forest, a small word can bring about unfortunate results for people around us. So, God warns us that the tongue is a fire.
Since it is written, “A man reaps what he sows,” if we sow evil words, we will end up with evil and ungracious results; however, if we sow God’s word, the kingdom of heaven and the love that God has taught us, we will reap eternal salvation and the fruit of life abundantly.
Let’s boldly tell the good news of salvation with love and emotions. By doing so, let us lead our loving parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and neighbors to the way of salvation. If the realm of God is realized in each family, the kingdom will come much sooner.
We should become the salt and light of the world by practicing good deeds as God has taught us. Let’s display the glory of God by changing beautifully through the teachings of Father and Mother, so that all the people around us will be moved by the Holy Spirit.
In our everyday lives, we should always renew and confirm our commitment to never let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths, but only good and beautiful words that give grace to those who hear. Even though we have not completely taken off our sinful nature yet, from now on let us live a life worthy of God”s children, full of grace, always speaking beautiful words and doing good deeds.