Following on from the last blog. There is a general principle that people will tend to mimic our vices rather than our virtues. We are naturally inclined to sinful behaviour. I believe it was Spurgeon who illustrated how much easier it is to drag down than to pull up by standing on his desk and asking a parishioner to pull him down!
Building up requires, to use modern jargon, a pro-active approach. We need to admit that we can’t do it on our own and seek the working of the Holy Spirit in us to enable us to build up rather than tear down.
Ephesians 4:29 sums up what our attitude should be:
“Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is good for edifying, as fits the occasion that it may impart grace to those who hear it.”
Are we seeking to impart grace to others by our speech?
