July 23, 2023
We’re in a message series called the mouth speaks what the heart is full of, Jesus words from Luke 6:45. Jesus is teaching that our words matter, and our heart matters. Jesus wants us to speak positive, encouraging words that build others up.
Last week we talked about when someone insults you or tears you down, you remember that for a long time. Words have a big impact. We looked at Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouth (unwholesome means stinky, rotten, or offensive words.) Then it says, only let your mouth speak what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. When we are mad at someone, instead of thinking about what we want to say to them, we need to think more about what they need to hear: they need encouragement and understanding. The words we speak can help them move forward and build them up.
Today we are going to discuss why it matters who’s talking. Have you ever gotten in trouble? Raise your hand if you have! When one of my kids was young, he was called to the principal’s office. You know what that means! But he came home and said, “I had a nice talk with the principal today!” We thought, what??!! Nobody has a nice talk with the principal. We heard from his teacher that he was sent to the principal’s office. Apparently, he had no fear of the principal, and felt like they just had a nice chat.
Most of us know you don’t want to be called to the principal’s office! It means you’re in trouble! When you get there, the words you hear from the principal matter! Then the principal calls your parents and that’s more to deal with!
I think it’s hard to be a principal, right? What do you say to kids who come to your office, guilty, but dreading your face-to-face talk? How do you hold them to account, but help them want to change? I read that a school principal should be calm, stern and take into account students’ feelings. That sounds a little like Ephesians 4:29: “Only speak what is helpful for building others up, that it may benefit them.”
There are some people whose words matter much more to you. If you’re a kid, the principal’s words matter! If you’re an adult, maybe you have a boss at work. And the boss can be your friend. But when they call you in and say, “We need to talk.” You know they are your boss now, and you might be in trouble!
For a parent who has a young child, your relationship with your child is with someone who is 100% dependent on you, until they become teenagers. Your child sees you, mom or dad, as the person who holds all the cards. Your words have more impact on them than their words have on you. The more influence and authority have over someone, the more impact your words have.
This is the way relationships are, they are often unequal. Which is ok, but it means we need to be careful, because our words have such a big impact. We need to consider what we will say, in order that we can have a positive impact with our words.
It matters who is talking! Imagine you’re a woman and a girlfriend tells you, “Wow, you look great! That outfit looks so good on you, you look so young!” Then imagine your 15-year-old daughter says, “Mom you look great! You look so young! We could be sisters!!” Maybe you just can’t imagine that. Who is talking matters! It makes a bigger impact.
When kids say positive things to their parents, that can make a big impact too! Some years back I was supposed to pick my son up at elementary school for a dentist appt. I mixed up the time and I was 45 minutes late! I felt like a terrible mom. He sat in the office for 45 minutes. When I got there he said, “Everybody makes mistakes.” He wasn’t concerned. His words meant a lot!
Parents, when you walk into a child’s room to deliver bad news. You see someone who knows better. Who do they see? They see the person whose approval they want more than anything else in the world! The more influence and authority you have over someone, the more impact your words have.
In our gospel today, Jesus tells us another way we have impact on others. In Matthew 5:11-12 Jesus says, be glad when people insult you, persecute and say all kinds of evil against you because of me. When you are getting insults because you are a Christian, that’s great!
Why does Jesus say this? Jesus says, when people insult you for me, rejoice and be glad! That’s what they did to the prophets. They insulted and they spoke evil words about them.
Jesus is saying, if you follow me, you are going to do things differently. You are not going to insult back. You get persecuted, you don’t persecute back. You get spoken evil against; you don’t do the same in return. Because you are a follower of Jesus, and a representative of Jesus. You are like the prophets were, representatives of God. And in Christ you have a heart full of love.
That’s important: you are representatives of God. People look at you, and if they know you’re a Christian, they expect more from you. They expect you to show the love of God.
Jesus says next in Matthew 5:13-14, “You are the salt of the earth.” “You are the light of the world.” Don’t lose your salt flavor. And don’t hide your light under a bowl. Put your light up on a stand, and let it give light to everyone in the house!
You’ve got Jesus’ love in you. Use that love in your heart to speak words that build others up. Give light to everyone!
What if we gave light to everyone? What if we spread love? People who were not Christians would notice! They would say, “Those Christians, they believe some strange stuff. But they are the most encouraging people, even when they tell you hard things. You know they have your best interest in mind. They are genuine and sincere. That’s who came when I was in trouble. I know they really care about me and my family. I don’t think I could ever believe what they believe. But I don’t have a doubt they believe it.
Jesus reminds us to be different from the world. Where the world tears down, we build up!
My homework for you this week is to think of someone that is more impacted by your words. Speak some affirming words to them.
Our words matter, and they matter more to people who we are important to. We are also representatives of Jesus. There have been religious people who were quick to tear people down and call them a sinner. We read the Bible and see Jesus had harsh criticism for them. We are followers of Jesus, and he calls us to have a heart of love, and for our mouths to speak words that build others up according to their needs. You represent Jesus, so let your light shine! Amen.
Next Sunday we’ll talk about the times we accidentally say the wrong thing.
Maureen Duffy-Guy's blog 