Words Matter

Anita Delene Manthe
Nov 3, 2017
2 min read

Are you forthright when speaking with others? Straightforward, bold, you say what you mean, and mean what you say? If you are, consider the essence of your words, are they kind, merciful, compassionate and tender?

You may be speaking the truth, but are others ready and willing to hear what you are saying?

Often, speaking the truth in love will win far more than speaking boldly. However, at times your words will offend particularly when they accuse correctly and the hearer is in denial, and defending their sin nature. Or, they have never been taught to apply the Word of God to their lives, and they simply do not know or understand.

In these moments caring, kindly spoken words will be heard as callous and uncaring. They will be considered as words without knowledge, when the opposite is true. When caring words are considered caustic they reveal the heart of the hearer. Either, they lack in Biblical teaching or they do not want to be held accountable, they want to defend their position. They will accuse you, they will call you cold, uncaring, callous and cruel.

Are you?

Or, are they revealing their true state and slandering you rather than be examined by Truth? Be warned. Walk vigilantly. Tread with caution.

If they are in a poorly taught community, and satisfied with it, they may not want to be challenged by the Word of God. They may deny the directives they are called to abide in and live for, simply because they do not know. Prayerful discernment is needed to evaluate their response, and for wisdom to move forward in your interactions with them.

Do not allow room for further misunderstanding lest the Gospel be slighted, and the Lord’s name be tarnished.

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver. Like a gold ring or an ornament of gold is a wise reprover to a listening ear (Proverbs 25:11-12).
Speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people (Titus 3:2).
Flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will (2 Timothy 2:22-26).
Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).