Loving Words Reveal Maturity

Anita Delene Manthe
Dec 8, 2016
2 min read

Over and over Scripture cautions on the words we use. Do you speak expressing your thoughts with careless abandon? Words flow unchecked from your mouth and you justify all of them. After all, the way you express yourself in your community is acceptable – everyone speaks as you do, everyone behaves as you do. It’s the way things are and always have been.

However, as a Christian our cultural / traditional ways are not the way we should live when it is opposed to the exhortations found in Scripture. Can it be said that you hide your words and what this reveals about you behind the façade of your community’s acceptability. You know at times there have been objections to how you say something, you know your words are opposite to what the Bible teaches. The Word has accused you, and you know it. It reveals a weakness and you cover it up with glib and fast words. You choose your expressions well, and you almost fool yourself that you’re acting righteously. Are you?

The exhortation to speak the truth in love reveals maturity, love and caring for those whom you interact with, especially and essentially in a church environment. When you do this – you are building others up. When this exhortation is not heeded much damage is done. It corrupts, and it divides. It breaks down unity. We are warned!

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell (James 3:5-6).
We have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God (2 Corinthians 4:2).
Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the LORD. (Zechariah 8:16-17).
Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ (Ephesians 4:15).

As much as it is a good and necessary discipline to examine our heart motives in light of Scripture to ensure the words we speak are from a pure heart, we are also called to listen to what is said from a pure heart.

Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you (Philippians 4:8-9).