Don't Give Others Rotten Meat

I have been blessed to be able to help coach a few of my son's sports teams. Our local youth baseball league has all the coaches and managers join The Positive Coaching Alliance. We all had to take the course that focuses on using positive reinforcement to help young players enjoy the game and improve their skills as players. My second son, after being berated by his coach in High School refused to ever play for him again. As a father, I wanted to punch the idiot in the head, but, I figured he wouldn't feel it and it would probably just break my hand. You see, nothing he said was to actually help my son be a better player, it was only said to make the coach sound like a better more committed coach (then he actually was). As Christians we are told in regards to the way we communicate:

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29

First of all, "Do not let" implies the obvious, that we have a choice and control over what we say. The choice is to build up or tear down anyone and everyone who comes into contact with you. 

Have you ever grabbed something, say milk, from your refrigerator and when you took a whiff it was definitely rotten? That is the picture Paul is painting here, that unwholesome talk is like offering someone some rotten putrefied meat. No thanks.

In contrast, the Apostle tells us that what we say should be helpful and aimed at building others up. One thing a good coach will do will be to try to find at least one good thing each player did or one simple skill to remember and build from there. The focus is on the other persons' needs not our own. 

Here's the to do's: 1) Think about what you are going to say. I once went on an answer fast and waiting about 30 seconds before speaking. Enlightening to say the least. 2) Say what benefits others. If it doesn't help, don't say it. 3) Remember the golden rule: Do (say) unto others what and how you'd like it done (said) unto you. 

Father, thank you that the truth, in Christ, you have spoken to us has brought us salvation. Use us to build others up today. Praise be to you in us today.