July 23 – Unwholesome Speech

       Ephesians 4:29: "Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but only what is needful for building up others, so that it may give grace to those hearing."

       In mid-July 2025, my wife and I took a mini-vacation with our daughter's family to Rehoboth Beach, DE, where we enjoyed the beaches, rode bikes, and visited a state park. The state wherein I reside (West Virginia) has no entry fees to its state parks. They are free and open to all state-residents, non-residents, and foreign visitors. (This means that WV residents subsidize the state park system for the rest of the world; but that is a topic for another day, and does not concern my thoughts on this topic of speech,) Non-residents of Delaware have to pay a fee of $10 to enter via automobile to Delaware state parks, which irks me. Well, when my wife and I got to the toll booth at the entrance to the state park we visited, I had my money ready as well as a smart-aleck quip about WV state parks being free to the world. The woman who took my money said nothing, but her male counterpart retorted with a snotty quip of his own. I received my receipt, and we proceeded – end of short conversation.

       As I mused later on this exchange of words, I was reminded of the above banner verse from Ephesians 4. The Greek word for unwholesome is "sapros", which can mean "rotten, putrid, corrupt, or of poor quality". While my words were not untrue or corrupt, they were not given in the spirit of beneficence, but were meant to be a slight on the manner in which Delaware pays to keep their park system a benefit to the public. I could say that I did not violate the first part of the verse, but I did not keep the latter half of the verse. Did the "innocent" toll-takers need my five seconds of negative sarcasm? I should have been gracious to them, instead offering a word of blessing upon their day. They were just performing their job duties. After all, the verse specifically mentions that our speech is to offer grace to those who hear. I offered nothing to build them up, which makes me ashamed. My interest in living out my new life in God's kingdom took second place to my feelings about state extortion of my measly ten dollars.

       Lesson learned, repentance needed, and confession of sin vocalized to God. May I do much better next time.

 

February 12 – Love/Faith With Action

        1 John 3:18 – "Dear children, let us love not with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth."

        This verse is such a simple command; yet, it is one that is ignored with great frequency. Christians and pagans alike throw around the phrase "I love you" so often and as a matter of habit most of the time. What is signified from that phrase is mostly a sentiment of fondness. There is nothing wrong with being fond of one's family, spouse, children, or friends. However, being fond of someone simply means that I have a positive emotional tie to that person. Fondness has nothing to do with how I treat that person in deed If I am fond of someone, I will most likely consistently treat that person well and care for his/her well-being. Nonetheless, there is no guarantee that will happen. Emotional dependence can often come with selfish manipulation.

        The verse above was written in the context of taking care of a brother's physical needs. John asks the question prior to this verse: "If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need, but has no pity upon him, how can the love of God be in him?" James also iterates this thought in 2:15-17, "Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, 'Go. I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,' , but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? Likewise, faith by itself, if not combined with action, is dead."

        We have two examples, therefore , in which love and faith are both treated as actions. Mere words, no matter how well-meaning , are worthless – to God and to the benefit of the situation. Wait; what about praying for someone? Is this an act of love? Well, yes, because you are spending time on behalf of someone's benefit by drawing near to God. Am I loving that person directly? Not if that person doesn't know that I am praying for him. What if I send that person a text message, saying that I am praying for him? What if I never have any regular contact with that person in my daily life? Am I showing him love?

        Am I also loving someone when I am not harming him, even though I have no contact whatsoever with that person? (Now the lines are getting blurry; or am I just nit-picking?) I would say that the absence of harm is not the same thing as love. That would simply be neutrality, because nothing is done for the benefit of the other person. Remember John's exhortation to us to love in action and truth.

        John's entire first letter is based upon pleasing and knowing God, and displaying a life that has been changed and motivated by his love for us. Brotherly love is the supplemental outgrowth of that change in us. Brotherly love implies some type of contact with another person, if not purposeful relationship building. And that takes time, patience, and action – not merely the speaking of well-sounding phrases.