“The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless. The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.”
Proverbs 10:20-21 NLT
In any relationship we have, there are tools that we can put to use that builds up those relationships. One such tool is edification or affirmation. Edification is the New Testament word for building up someone or something. Why is this process of edification so necessary to our relationships? To build up demonstrates the process of creating and adding to someone positively not tearing down that person. The world knows full well how to tear someone literally apart. That is not we are called to do. We are to be builders for the kingdom!
The words of the Godly are to be encouraging, positive and enlightening not negative and destructive. We should seek to build on our relationships each day, laying stone after stone down of love and compassion to our fellow man. The analogy I heard is this: a relationship is like a house. Words that edify and affirm build that house stronger while words of discouragement tear that house apart one piece at a time. Do we not want strong and productive relationships? We must then speak words of edification to those we encounter. These words are considered to be precious in God’s eyes.
Sometimes our greatest work will be to inspire others to accomplish their greatest work for the Lord. Speak life today!
In Christ
RJ