According to the Need of the Moment

The apostle Paul wrote of the importance of encouragement in our speech. In Colossians 4:6 he said, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” This is not an admonition to use “salty speech” (i.e., profanity) as some among us are wont to do. Salt, as it is used here, would have the same meaning as it does in Matthews 5:13 where Jesus tells us that His disciples are the “salt of the earth.” In other words, it’s good for the earth that Christians are a part of it. Our speech should reflect that fact. It should be good for others to be in our company and hear our speech.

In Ephesians 4:29, Paul commanded that no “unwholesome” word be spoken by us. That means that nothing “unwholesome,” or “corrupt,” or “filthy” should come out of our mouths. Obviously, this would apply to profanity. However, profane words are not the only corrupt, filthy, and unwholesome communication we can use. Words that bite are filthy. Words that criticize (not constructive and positive criticism, but negative and destructive criticism), words that teach others to criticize are unwholesome and corrupt speech and should be purged from our minds and mouths.

The positive alternative is in the same verse (Ephesians 4:29). Rather than filthy communication, use speech that’s good for edification. That means language that builds others up rather than tears them down. We said earlier that being salt means that it is good for the world that we are here. Seasoning our speech with salt that builds means that it is good for those around us to hear what we are saying. Spreading the Gospel message of the saving grace of Jesus Christ is certainly included, but a simple “Thank you” is just as salty! Try it sometime (no, all the time). The next time you are sitting in traffic in the left turn lane and there is a little old lady in the car in front of you and the green arrow comes on and she doesn’t see it and just sits there, try something new. Instead of imagining that she is just callous and rude and doesn’t care that if you don’t get to McDonald’s at precisely 10:30, they won’t have any sausage biscuits left and you blow a gasket between your ears in frustration, try imagining that she has a lot on her mind and needs your patience more than she needs your horn going off in her ears. Try the same thing the next time you have the opportunity to speak to someone who has been rude to you or has given you an opportunity to speak evil or good. Weigh the need of the moment and then speak something that edifies and not something that hurts or tears down. What you’ll find is that the healing and the edification happens to you as much and maybe more than to the one you have blessed with your salty speech.

I know that there are times when constructive criticism is necessary and there are many times when we are too afraid of it to use it, and damage is done because we didn’t criticize. However, for today I want us to concentrate on not being destructively critical of others but being edifying in our speech and conduct. Remember, God loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates

The Healing Power of Ministry

Did you ever notice how you feel better when you make someone else feel better? When we’re down or depressed or stressed, it’s hard to think of others, but the evidence suggests that it’s worth the effort. Time and again, when Jesus was stressed, the multitudes pressed Him. They would not leave Him alone. And time and again Jesus ministered to the multitudes. Some might think this just shows the sacrificial nature of the ministry of Jesus, and I’m certainly not going to suggest that Jesus only ministered to people from a selfish motive of self-therapy. Scripture says Jesus felt “compassion” for those who pressed Him so. That compassion served Jesus well and it will serve us well, too.

If we may use another Scriptural example, we might more easily see the connection between our actions toward others (ministry) and the healing of our spirits. In the first family in human history, one brother became jealous of the other and committed the first murder (Genesis 4:8). However, before that irreversible act of murder was committed, Cain (the murderer) was already angry. His worship had been rejected by God, but that didn’t require that he kill Abel, his brother! So many times, we don’t recognize that there is a problem with someone until it’s too late. The deed is done! However, even then it’s not too late to rescue a soul. What I mean is that most people in the world didn’t know the names of any of several serial killers we could name before they were arrested and made famous through the news media. That ignorance on our part, however, doesn’t mean they were not around. Certainly, they were! And they each had the opportunity to take a different path in life than murder. Let’s go back to Cain. When he and his brother offered their sacrifices to God, Abel’s was accepted, and Cain’s was not. We’re not told exactly why, but the descriptions of the offerings give us a hint. Cain brought an offering of the fruit of the ground (Genesis 4:3). Abel brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions (Genesis 4:4). That suggests that Abel’s offering was more of a sacrifice than Cain’s. Regardless of the reason, Cain chose to respond in anger. God responded to him by giving advice that rings through the ages: “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up?” (Genesis 4:7).

Not only was Cain angry, but his countenance (face) showed it. Of course, God can see a man’s heart, but His point is that anyone could tell by looking at Cain that he was having problems. He was angry; angry enough to kill. And yet the solution was not that someone needed to minister to Cain! Did you hear that? Then let me say it again: The solution was not that someone needed to minister to Cain…he needed to minister to someone else. Or, more specifically in this context, Cain needed to “do well!” The different course Cain could have taken to deal with anger was for him to actively “do well,” or reach out to someone else.

When you feel stressed and assailed from every direction, rather than retreating within your own safe and “comfortable” shell and waiting for someone to come and minister to you, try reaching out to someone else who is suffering even more than you are. That person won’t be hard to find, if you look. And if you remain in your “safe place,” you will find that it’s not all that safe. Your suffering will fester, and you will be worse off in the end. If you feel bad, do something good for someone else. You will feel better! God made you that way because He loves you and so do I.

Donnie Bates