Richard Hollerman

We know that most of us speak and generally we speak much. Millions use good speech and billions (sadly) use bad speech. By this, we mean (on the one hand) speech or words that are good, helpful, blessed, and godly. On the other hand, we know that there is speech or language that is bad, corrupt, mean, hurtful, and unkind.

We hope that you, our readers, will go to our website and type in “speech” (at the “search” area). And, additionally, we hope that you will go to Facebook and do the same. In both cases, you should find many articles that you can access and find help.

For example, let’s go to Ephesians 4:29 where we read: “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as it good for edification, according to the need of the moment, so that it will be give grace to those who hear.” From this, we can see that “unwholesome” or “rotten” words are not to be seen or heard from our lips but rather we are to employ “edifying” words that built up the hearer.

Also, in Matthew 12:34, we learn that our hearts should speak that which is good and helpful. Further, in Ephesians 5:4, we learn that we should not indulge in “silly talk” or “coarse jesting” but we are to have “thankful” speech instead. Further, we should not indulge in angry speech, wrathful speech—speech filled with malice or slander, and are to avoid all “abusive speech” from the mouth. Furthermore, we know that Jesus said that “every careless word that people speak,” they will give an account of them to God! (Matthew 12:35-37).

There are many other instructions regarding our speech—which includes the negative and the positive. Proverbs is filled with such language but we find this instruction regarding speech from Genesis to Revelation.

We might see Colossians 3:9 where we are told not to “lie” to one another, but (as in vv.12-17), we are to speak loving words, forgiving words, compassionate words, kind word, humble words, gentle words, and patient words. If we all were to do this (putting away the mean and evil and putting on the kind and compassionate), how life would change!

If we were to stand before God, what would He say and what would He want? Surely He would want us to be sweet and not harsh, kind and not evil! What is your speech like? Do you please the Lord in the way you talk and in what you say? Or do you please yourself and say wicked words? Are your words “rotten” or are they upbuilding?