What do we Say?

I've been wrestling a lot with what to say in certain circumstances this past week, and maybe you can relate. Occasionally someone will say or do something that completely ticks you off, or that just gets on your nerves like crazy! In an instance we have to chose how we respond, and what we communicate through that response. Occasionally, if it isn't something that big, we can wave it off and go about our day without it bugging us to much. But there is a big chunk of those times where we feel the need to stand our ground or defend ourselves, depending on the circumstances. So we might lash out, or say something sarcastic that implies something about the other person.
The reaction we have, and how we respond in any given situation tells people a lot about our character. Aesop, the ancient storyteller, told this fable: Once upon a time, a donkey found a lion's skin. He tried it on, strutted around, and frightened many animals. Soon a fox came along, and the donkey tried to scare him, too. But the fox, hearing the donkey's voice, said, "If you want to terrify me, you'll have to disguise your bray." Aesop's moral: Clothes may disguise a fool, but his words will give him away.
So often what we say an do is a direct example of the real person inside of us. We can put on outer disguises and try to go about pleasantly, but when something gets on our nerves, we hold on, and just can't seem to let go. When we can't forgive and move on, forgetting what that person said, we eventually respond in any given way, to someone around us. Maybe you are mad at your boss, so you go home and take it out on your family, maybe you are mad at a friend, so you take it out on your siblings, or maybe you are mad at yourself, so you take it out on those around you. None of these instances are ok. 
Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." This is a very powerful statement, especially for those who struggle with their words, and what to say in any given circumstance. Are we using our words constructively to build others up, or are we tearing people down with each phrase we emit? God calls us to be encouragers, and representers of His name. We can't let the flesh get in our way and cause us to sin against other people.
So I want to encourage you today to look at yourself and those around you. First of all ask yourself, Am I being uplifting to people around me today, in what I say, in what I do? And second, How can I better be an encouragement to those around me, even if I don't get anything in return? How can I build people up today? Henry Ferguson once said "If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?" Lets think about that today.