- “The cashier took forever to ring up my groceries! I could have done it in half the time with one hand and bagged them all with the other!”
- “Were you born in a barn? This room looks like a pigsty!”
- “She’s says she’s not coming because of her kids’ sports schedule…"
- (Yelled to the driver who has just cut in front) “Is your car not equipped with a turn signal or are you too incompetent to use it?”
No big deal.
Right?
I mean, what’s wrong with a little Complaining?
Or some well-deserved Criticism?
Or a wee bit of Gossip?
Or witty Sarcasm?
Loosen up!
Right?
Be real: 31 days with no complaining, no criticism, no gossip, and no sarcasm?
Aren’t we taking this a bit too seriously?!?
God Takes Talk Seriously
In the NIV, Ephesians 4:29 says “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
In the NLT, it says, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
The KJV says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
If you're at all like me, you might be thinking:
The KJV says, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
If you're at all like me, you might be thinking:
- "But half my conversations are complaining."
- "I just speak my mind."
- "That’s so limiting! "
- "If I followed these 'suggestions', I’d have to stop talking altogether!"
Don’t Believe God? Ask Amazon.
Let’s browse the Self-Help section.
If complaining+ really is a useful relationship skill, then surely we’ll find dozens of books telling us how to do it better, right?
Perhaps we can order up a copy of...
These titles aren't available?
Perhaps we can order up a copy of...
These titles aren't available?
Maybe they’re temporarily sold out!
They don’t even exist?
Oh.
Here’s What’s Wrong
Here’s why we don't find how-to books about becoming a better complainer:
Here’s why we don't find how-to books about becoming a better complainer:
Complaining+
Does.
Not.
Work.
Does.
Not.
Work.
(complaining+ = complaining, criticizing, gosipping, and sarcasm)
Q4U: Leave a comment to be entered into this week's drawing for a copy of Dangerous Surrender: What Happens When You Say "Yes" to God by Kay Warren!
- What does Ephesians 4:29 say to you?
- Which do you think will be the hardest for you to stop: Complaining, Criticism, Gossip, or Sarcasm? Why?
The PURSE-onality Challenge: 31 days of replacing "baditude" with God's Word and Gratitude!
Click here for more details!
