Category Archives: Edification

Elderly woman hugging and comforting a younger woman who looks upset on a front porch with house number 42
Bible, Edification, Good, Neighbors, Pleasing, Romans, Scripture

PLEASE YOUR NEIGHBOR

ROMANS 15:2

“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.”

What a concept – pleasing our neighbors! In today’s world we do just the opposite. We watch out for ourselves often at the expense of our neighbor. We know Jesus told the famous parable of the Good Samaritan when asked the question “Who is my neighbor?” in Luke 10. That “neighbor” was described as anyone in need. Paul is pointing more towards our fellow believers and our obligation to them. Let’s look at this closer.

I could dissect this verse word for word, but I want to concentrate on two words, “good” and “edification.” That should be our motive for pleasing our brothers and sisters in Christ. Matthew Poole says this in his commentary about today’s verse. “Having said we must not please ourselves, he immediately subjoins, we must please others, viz. every one his neighbour: he means, that we should condescend and accommodate ourselves to others, and give them satisfaction in all things; at least so far as may tend to their good and edification.”

APPLICATION

In 1 Corinthians 10:24 Paul writes a similar statement. “No one is to seek his own advantage, but rather that of his neighbor.” This “good” that Paul refers to in our verse today is the beneficial good. It is not just anything that is good or what you or the person thinks it’s good. It’s something that is actually good for them. Now that may not appear good to them at the time, but it is for their benefit.

The word “edification” is the same word we saw in Romans 14:19 when Paul said to build each other up. It’s the Greek word oikodomḗ  which HELPS Word-studies describes this way, “properly, a building (edifice) serving as a home; (figuratively) constructive criticism and instruction that builds a person up to be the suitable dwelling place of God, i.e. where the Lord is ‘at home.’” I really like that. Don’t you?

There are a couple of other examples that Paul showed us in 1 Corinthians. The first is found in 9:19. “For though I am free from all people, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may gain more.” The other is in 10:33. “just as I also please everyone in all things, not seeking my own benefit but the benefit of the many, so that they may be saved.” Isn’t that the ultimate building up of someone – to lead them to Jesus. Let’s please our neighbor this way.

Father, You have shown me who my neighbor is. Help me serve them well and build them up.

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Bible, Blessing, Edification, Scripture, Tongue, Words

USE THE RIGHT WORDS

EPHESIANS 4:29

“Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”

How many times have you said something only to regret it a second later? The words just slipped out of your mouth. Sure, you were thinking them, but you didn’t mean to say them. Or maybe you did mean to say them. You meant to inflict harm on someone’s feelings. You knew exactly what you were saying. Words are like toothpaste – once they are out it is impossible to get them back in.

Paul knew the danger of unwholesome words. I am sure he had heard plenty of those when he was a pharisee. But what does that word “unwholesome” even mean? The Greek word is sapros which means “rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved” (Strong’s Concordance). The word was used primarily to refer to fruits or vegetables that were overripe or putrid. Hmmm, what does that say about these unwholesome words in our mouth?

APPLICATION

The word sapros is used in Matthew 7:17-18, “17 ‘So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad  tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.’” It’s interesting to me that sapros is used here to describe the tree (the source of the fruit) and not the fruit (the product). What does that say about us when we use unwholesome words?

Sapros is also used in Matthew 13:47-48 when Jesus told the parable about the dragnet. “47 ‘Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind; 48 and when it was filled, they pulled it up on the beach; and they sat down and gathered the good fish into containers, but the bad they threw away.’” Jesus will not receive these unwholesome words any more than He will receive these bad fish.

I believe the key to today’s verse is found in the last phrase – “so that it will give grace to those who hear.” We should only use words that give grace. What does that mean? It means to bless them in some way. We are to build them up not tear them down. Today choose your words carefully. Edify and give grace.

The tongue is a slippery thing and can cause much damage. Help me guard my tongue today, O Lord.

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