Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29, NASB)
In 1996, professional hockey came to Central Texas. The Central Texas Stampede joined the Western Professional Hockey League. The players loved to play golf and two of them worked part-time at Wildflower Country Club. My wife, Melody, and I went to the first pre-season game that year. The boards were up but not the behind the benches. So, when we strolled by the Stampede bench, she was exposed to the “Language of the Ice.” She had never heard that kind of language coming from her new hockey friends. She tried to tell them “we don’t use that kind of language in Texas,” but I’m not sure it helped.
We can say it’s important to watch our words around kids, who are impressionable, or around women, who often are more sensitive. But Scripture teaches that we should watch our words around everyone.Golfers have been known to use some colorful language. We can call it the “Language of the Links.” When does the LOL come out? After missing a three-footer, or leaving a shot in a bunker, or maybe when we thin one over the green. We have probably all tossed out our share of LOL. What do we do when we hear it in excess? That’s a good question. Depending on the situation, we might say something. My guess is that you don’t let it affect your language on the links. You choose your words carefully, seeking to glorify our Father through your speech and actions.
Where does our language fit into our daily walk? Does what we say matter? It does, because our language is an expression of what is inside us. Jesus confronted the Pharisees with this observation: “The mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34).
When Paul later set this matter into the words of practical instruction, he wrote: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person” (Colossians 4:6). You have a mouth, and because others have ears, they are listening to what you say. A new believer, especially, wants to know how a friend in his weekly Bible study expresses himself.
We can say it’s important to watch our words around kids, who are impressionable, or around women, who often are more sensitive. But Scripture teaches that we should watch our words around everyone. Others look to us as examples of what is right or wrong. Our verse today, Ephesians 4:29, says clearly, “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth.” Is what we say edifying? Does it give grace to those who hear?
One of the beauties of growing in Christ are the changes that gradually take place in our lives. Our thankfulness increases, our thoughts change, our desires change, and hopefully our speech changes. I am still working on mine, and I do have an entire list of jokes and vocabulary that have been placed on a shelf, hopefully never to come back. I should be just fine as long as I stay away from the links and off the ice.
—
Bill Euler
August 21, 2018
Copyright 2018 Links Players International
The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.