Being Critical of Others is Not a Gift

Have you ever noticed at how easy it is to come up with a list of 25 negative things about someone? Yet coming up with only 5 encouraging things about someone takes a lot more effort. We live in a world where criticism thrives. A world where people feel they're entitled to voice their negativity and criticism whenever, to whoever, about whatever. The Message encourages us in Ephesians 4:29, "Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift." Imagine if we looked at our every word as a gift :) It's so tragic to me how little people encourage, edify or strengthen with their words, finding it much easier to tear down and destroy. Proverbs 18:21 gives us a very clear choice, "Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose." Today every person in the world will have the choice to build up or destroy with their words. Being critical and negative essentially "kills." Being encouraging "gives life." Today it's time to put down your magnifying glass and looking for things to be critical about in others. Choose to be a builder, allowing your words to bring life and strengthen to others. See what a difference you can make today in the lives of those around you, simply by your words :)