How would you like for every word you have ever spoken to be played back for all your world to hear? Francis Schaeffer once said that if every word we have ever spoken could be played back by a huge recorder, the whole world would go into hiding.
From the days of Shakespeare, we have this timeless phrase – “My word is my bond.” But Jesus said that centuries before, when he said that our “yes” should stand on its own merit.
Most of us sin with our tongues more than with the rest of our bodies combined. That’s why Paul wrote, “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).
Paul understood the power of the tongue. And the importance of building others up.
Step 12 tells us to take the message of recovery to other addicts, to encourage them and inspire them. To do anything less is to abandon our recovery and discourage the recovery of someone else.
Recovery Step: We often say, “Do the next right thing.” Try this instead – “Say the next right thing.”
