Be sweet. If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all. Hold your tongue. Think before you speak. Any of that sound familiar? The things we say are important. What we say will either build up or tear down those around us.
A common maxim says, “Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt” (the source for this is likely Proverbs 17:28, not Abe Lincoln, as commonly thought). Our words matter. The question is, are they wise?
These verses are key in understanding how to interact with our brothers and sisters in Christ, and yet they often get passed over because of the words “husband,” “wife,” “sons,” and “children.” The Bible assumes that marriage is the norm because it was when the Bible was written. But passages that seem to speak exclusively to spouses and parents have something to teach everyone – if you dig a little deeper.
Wisdom. Love. Praise. Blessing. The people in these verses love and encourage each other. Those characteristics of godly men and women? They encourage each other in their pursuit of the things of Christ. In our Christian communities, consider how we can help our spiritual brothers and sisters walk in the roles God has assigned each of us.