Day 27: Refrain from Godless Chatter, Embrace Wholesome Speech

Good Morning My Friends! Words matter! They either lead to life or to death. Unfortunately, sometimes we’re drawn to harmful things. We’re enticed to participate in conversations at times that are not healthy for us. Whether you’re just listening or you’re actually talking, both activities impact both us and others. That’s a lot of both/and’s isn’t it?

Today, God wants us to intentionally refrain from godless chatter (2 Timothy 2:16, NIV). I think you’ll be amazed why He wants us to refrain from this behavior.

“Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly”

If our goal is to become more like Jesus, we cannot allow godless chatter to be a part of our lives.

I decided to see how the different versions of the Bible describe “godless chatter.” I think this will help you understand what God means by “godless chatter.” Then you’ll be able to decide if you are participating.

All these come from 2 Timothy 2:16:

• Avoid worthless, foolish talk (NLT)
• Avoid irreverent, empty speech (HCSB)
• Avoid irreverent babble (ESV)
• Shun profane and vain babblings (KJV)
• Avoid profane chatter (NRSV)
• Avoid worldly and empty chatter (NASB)
• Keep away from profane and foolish discussions (GNT)

First of all, chatter is our speech; the actual words we use to communicate.

Godless chatter is filled with ungodly characteristics.

• Empty words suggests a deceiving lack of real substance, soundness, and genuineness.
• Profanity is when we treat (something sacred) with abuse or vulgar use of words.
• Vain speech has no real value.
• Irreverence shows disrespect for religious things.
• Foolish speech has or shows a lack of good sense, judgment, or discretion.

And then of course, there’s the overall form of godless chatter called gossip!

Gossiping reveals personal or sensational facts about others. So not cool!

If you’re participating in any of the godless chatter listed above, whether you’re the talker or the listener, this will lead both you and others into more ungodly behavior.

God’s Word says that those who indulge unwholesome talk become more and more ungodly.

Rotten Apples

Now if we are the ones actually doing the babbling, yikes! Stop! Please stop. You’re sinning. Oh my, this leads us down an unsightly path. I promise you. You do not want to head in that direction.

“Life and death are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21, HCSB).

Death? Now maybe that will cause us to pause from godless chatter today.

Okay, that image of choosing which fruit you’re going to eat really drives God’s point. If you had to choose a piece of fruit and you only had two choices: a rotten, moldy, oozing yuk from it, soft and mushy apple or a bright, shiny, crisp, sweet, no bruises, fresh, apple, which one would you choose to eat? Which one would you offer to someone else to eat?

I hope your answer is the second choice. Can you imagine offering a rotten apple to someone? No thank you! I’ll pass. I’d rather not eat thank you very much.

Unfortunately, that is what we’re offering to people when we speak godless chatter. It’s also what we ourselves are eating if we listen to godless chatter.

We are to become both whole and holy people. How can we do that if we ourselves speak unwholesome talk and we listen to it?

Fresh Apples Only Please

Let’s only offer fresh apples today.

Let’s only speak that which is edifying to others.

“No foul language is to come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29, HCSB).

Let’s use wholesome speech today. Embrace healthy, kind, and good-tasting conversations.

“Pleasant [gracious] words are a honeycomb: sweet to the taste and health to the body” (Proverbs 16:24, HCSB).

Let’s choose to embrace wholesome, healthy words and conversations today so that we can intentionally help others to be healthy too.

Practical Application

We need to leave godless conversations.

Put away the filthy language today:

“But now you must also put away all the following:  anger, wrath, malice, slander, and filthy language from your mouth” (Colossians 3:8, HCSB).

I spent quite a bit of time this morning researching God’s Word about speech. If you want to read through more Scriptures for God’s instructions on our speech, I strongly encourage you to do that.

Finally, please refrain from gossip and worthless conversations today. Instead embrace wholesome speech. Let’s only choose to eat and give fresh apples today.

Blessing for Your Day

[callout]May the words of your mouth and the meditation of your heart be acceptable to your Lord, your rock and Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)[/callout]

Just for Today

Refrain from Godless Chatter, Embrace Wholesome Speech