The believer typically has two options when it comes to this verse: say something kind or stay quiet. Being a fountain of life does not mean that loving rebuke or correction is off-limits. Sometimes the kindest thing we can do is speak an uncomfortable truth. The key is making sure God is prompting us to speak—not simply saying something we think we ought to, or because we really want to. And then, we must be absolutely certain we are speaking out of genuine love for the person. When that happens, we’ll find that it brings peace and power. That’s because the Holy Spirit is at work—and He only brings life. Life-giving speech is more valuable than money and more desirable than power. It changes lives—and ultimately changes us. It makes sense that Solomon spends so much time in this book talking about what we say and why we say it. Life-giving speech is infused with wisdom. It cannot happen apart from God’s indwelling power. When we are fully aligned with God, what we say flows directly from the heart of our Savior into the spirit of the hearer. That kind of transformation cannot come from our words alone. Today, speak life. #BeTheEdge
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 NIV
