"If You Haven't Got Anything Nice To Say....."

We remember the rest of this line, don’t we? Momma always used to say, “If you haven’t got anything nice to say about someone, don’t say anything at all.” I think Momma knew the words of the wise man:

“The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 10:11; “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom” (Proverbs 10:31); “The lips of the righteous know what is fitting” (Proverbs 10:32 NIV).

Momma knew that what we say is a reflection of and an influence upon who we are on the inside. How important is it, then, that Christians be persons who encourage, compliment, strengthen, and build up with our words.

The writer of Hebrews instructs us: “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24 NIV).

Beloved, are we an encourager or a discourager” Do we build up or tear down? Do we feel that God has given us a gift for criticism? There is no such thing!

For: 

“Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things….And the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9 NIV). —Bulletin Digest

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets