Be Careful what you say

Common sense tells us that there is a lot to gain by staying quiet. Of course there will be times when you will be called upon to speak or must take a stand for the Lord, and in these times God promises to be with you. (Matthew 10:18-20 “¹⁸ You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. ¹⁹ But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; ²⁰ for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”)

However, we should be careful as to what we say and how we say it. Passing comments, that to us seem helpful or necessary, to others can be hurtful and damaging. James 3:3-5 recognises the great influence and importance of words: “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at the ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”

Be careful in what you say to your brethren, whether they are weak in their faith or mature. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. As Paul states, our boast of Christ is in each other. (2 Corinthians 1: 13-14 “…Now I trust you will understand, even to the end ¹⁴ (as also you have understood us in part), that we are your boast as you also are ours, in the day of the Lord Jesus.”) We are able to use each others witness as our own witness. Paul instructs us to keep complaining to a minimum, for we should bring joy to each other. If a fellow brother or sister in Christ is sad, then I too will be sad because my boast is in them. Whereas if that same brethren is joyful, then their joy will help to build me up and we will be joyful together in Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:1-2 “But I determined this within myself, that I would not come again to you in sorrow. ² For if I make you sorrowful, then who is he who makes me glad but the one who is made sorrowful by me?”

In ‘The Great Debaters’, a film about an all-black debate team in Southern America, Denzel Washington, the teacher, instructs one of his students not to use himself as the brunt of his jokes in an attempt to introduce humour but rather use the opposition. He says that ‘you wouldn’t punch yourself in a street fight, so don’t beat your self up in a word fight’. Unity in Christ is vital. Mark 3:24-25 states: “²⁴ If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵ And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” As brethren we should strive for unity in Christ. Together we will be better equipped to be salt and light to the earth (Matthew 5:14-16), for as individuals we all make up the body of Christ.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14: “¹² Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. ¹³ For we were all baptized by^[c] one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free —and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. ¹⁴ Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.”

To accomplish unity we must encourage and build one another up in Christ. Our words have the power to destroy that unity. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 states, “¹¹ Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”


James 3:10: ^“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

Think before you speak, and do not say things that will discourage your brethren. Such things are foolish. If you have a desire to discourage your brethren, may you stay quiet so that you appear to be wise. (Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”)

This is not to say that we should not correct one another in Christ. We should be bold in the Lord and tell it as it is: 1 Thessalonians 5 goes on to say: “¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. ¹⁵ See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.”

But do not be hurtful. If you must correct one another, pray for wisdom in doing so and you shall be blessed. Do not be flippant in what you say and do not discourage your brethren. Harming your brethren is harming yourself.


-BACChristian.