March 9, 2023: No Corrupt Talking

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear." (Ephesians 4:29, ESV)

As Paul continues to address sins of the tongue, let us not forget that the tongue is connected to the heart. Jesus made it clear, "Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." So again, we see Paul encouraging the church in Ephesus not to let corrupt talk come out of them. It is not a matter of behavioral change but heart change.

The word 'corrupt' comes from the Greek word 'sapros' "meaning the process of decay, to cause decay or rot. (Kittle) The Lexam Theological Wordbook says it is "A word intended to bring about a negative result for another." With those definitions in mind, we must realize that when we let corrupt talk come out of our mouths, we are exporting decay and rot to the souls of others. Now flip that! Start speaking words of encouragement, and watch what happens!

The effect is one of 'good for building up!' The word 'building up' means the act of building. If you are not building and your speech is corrupt, it is tearing down. But if your speech is edifying, you are helping others to reach their potential in whom God created them to be.

The last powerful thing in this scripture written by Paul is this: when we speak with words that build, we give grace (God's ability) to others.