Edify (build up, encourage, confirm, construct)
Every word you speak will either build up or tear down someone or something.
Proverbs 18:21 says “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they that
love it shall eat the fruit thereof”.
The Bible tells us in James 1:19 “wherefore my beloved brethren, let every man
be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”. Take time to hear from the Spirit.
He will give you the right words to answer. I heard a joke that says God gave you
two ears to listen with and only one mouth to speak, for this very reason. James
warns us not to mix our words to both bless God and then curse His creation
(James 3:9-12). We are to speak the truth in love. I was taught “if you can’t say
something good about someone, don’t say anything”. Even when you have that
some one who rub you the wrong way, if you will focus on something good they do
and speak praises on their good qualities, they will seem to change. It’s hard to
stay angry or mean with someone that speaks well of you.
We can edify ourselves. Jude tells us how in Jude 20-23 “But you beloved,
building up yourselves on your must holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit. Keep
yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to
eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference. And others save
with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the
flesh.” David, encouraged himself (I Samuel 30:6) “and David was greatly
distressed for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people
was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters, but David encouraged
himself in the Lord his God”. When things look bad, encourage yourself in the
word. The word says “I am the head and not the tail”, “I am more than a
conqueror”. Speak God’s word over your circumstances unto they change.
God made a way for us to be edified (Ephesians 4:11-16), and to edify others
(Ephesians 4:29) “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but
that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the
hearers”. However Christians are tearing down the body of Christ, by speaking
against other Christians. If you feel they are in error in their doctrine, then pray
that God will reveal their error to them. In Romans 14:19 says “let us therefore,
follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify
another”. In 15:1-2 we are told “we then that are strong ought to bear the
infirmities of the weak and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his
neighbor for his good to edification.” Love edifies (I Corinthians 8:1) “knowledge
puffs up, but love edifies”. Paul writes to Timothy (I Timothy 1:4-5) that he would
charge some that they teach no other doctrine. “Neither give heed to fables and
endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is
in faith, so do. Now the end of the commandment is love, out of a pure heart, and
of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.”
Paul explains the difference between edifying ourselves and edifying others (I
Corinthians 14;1-5, 12, 26).
Study by: Harriet Bond
Date: July 11, 2006