FRIENDSHIP.Uzorak

A friend is careful with their words

Friends are careful with their tongues. How many friendships do you know that have been damaged by idle gossip or a loose tongue? Friends don’t repeat what has been told to them in confidence. They don’t break trust. This overlaps a lot with friends being candid: we need to be careful in how and when we use our words. Friends are careful to use their words to build people up and not tear them down. The converse side of this truth is that friends use their words to encourage and not demotivate. Friends use their words to point people to Jesus. A friend uses their words to point non-believers to Jesus and to help believers to grow in their love and knowledge of him. 

Question What are some specific ways you can encourage your friends with your words? Are there some behaviours that tend towards gossiping with your words that you need to repent of? 

Prayer Gracious God, please help us to speak words that are full of light and salt. Please help us to build people up with our words rather than tear them down. Please remove from our hearts tendencies towards gossip. Amen.