When I was a senior in high school, there was a group of sophomore boys who followed me around like puppy dogs. They were like little brothers and I considered it my responsibility to keep them on the straight and narrow path. We had a lot of fun together—their company saved me from dateless Friday nights and girlfriend-drama.
My self-appointed mission was to clean up their mouths. Every time a curse word was spoken in my presence, I admonished them with the words, “Watch your mouth.” Unfortunately, my big-sisterly advice only seemed to make them swear more. They loved getting my dander up and died laughing at my predictable reaction to their unwholesome talk. Upon my high school graduation, my groupies presented me with a t-shirt emblazoned with—you guessed it—WATCH YOUR MOUTH. I was quite touched.
The Apostle Paul knew some people who needed similar advice.
“Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths,
but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs.” Eph. 4:29
The word “unwholesome” is used in only two other ways in the Bible.
1) As rotten, putrid fruit (“No good tree bears bad fruit.” Luke 6:43)
2) As stinky, dead fish (“They threw the bad fish away.” Matt. 13:48)
This makes me think about my own word choices.
Or maybe I should say, my own choice words.
Do I only say what is helpful?
Do my words build others up?
Am I mindful of their needs?
I sure wish I still had my t-shirt from 1977.
I need the reminder to watch my mouth.
Don’t let even one rotten word seep out of your mouths.
Instead, offer only fresh words that build others up when they need it most.
That way your good words will communicate grace to those who hear them.
Ephesians 4:29, The Voice
a small drop of ink 