Do your words benefit those that listen?

I get a daily Bible scripture sent to me from The Daily Bible Verse. Today's scripture was Proverbs 12:14 - NIV From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him.

What I like most about the emails is that there is always commentary to go along with it. Today's commentary was:

Our mouths and our hands both produce a product. It is their "fruit." Wise words bring rewards just as hard work does.

Our words should be used to honor God and build up others in the truth.

"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

Do your words benefit those who listen?

Hmmm... very interesting question I thought. And I would have to answer no, not always.

Especially lately, watching Jake's baseball games. Jake is playing on a Rookie league. It is designed for those that were not quite ready for the "big" league so they can get extra attention and training before they move up. In this league, everyone is supposed to play regardless of ability. Jake is doing well and is right where he needs to be as far as the decision for him to be in the rookie division. My problem is with the favoritism that I see the coach showing to his own son.

The coaches son plays on the team - and he is a pretty good player - I won't take that away from him. But, he jumps ahead in batting order, he walks around with an attitude of superiority (my dad is the coach!), he gets away with things in the dugout that other kids would get in trouble with... But my biggest pet peeve is that he is rewarded for playing this team sport like he is the only kid on the field!!! The coach has created a reward system for the boys ... if they do extra good in the game then they receive a game ball at the end of the game. The 4 with the most game balls at the end of the season get gift certificates to different places.

For one, the coach doesn't wait til the end of the game to decide who should get a ball for the game - so if you do something extra ordinary in the 3rd inning, too bad. But, his son will leave his position and go all the way across the field to get a ball, pushing others out of the way, and then will run the ball to the base (instead of throwing it to the base) - just so he can be rewarded with the out! And instead of the coach telling him to stay in his place or to throw the ball - he rewards him for getting so many outs!!! There have been times when it was clearly Jake's ball but Jake has said, why try - Jonathan got it and he won't throw it....

Baseball is a team sport!!!!!!!!

And it is soooo clear that the other mom's in the stands are smooching up to the team mom and coach - when Jonathan is at bat or does something on the field you would think that it's Mickey Mantle or Babe Ruth out there...

Well, one mom doesn't do it - she walked up to us at the last game and said, "I don't want to sound whatever, but this is 2 innings and I haven't seen my son playing." No, when the coach switched out the kids playing the outfield, everyone had to come in but the coaches son... and this other boy had to sit out.

Sigh.... so back to the scripture... I try so hard to keep my mouth shut while in the stands... but sometimes I just can't stand it anymore... it drives me crazy!!!

Lately, I have been reduced to making some comments that were not helpful or beneficial at all.... for example: The team mom was telling us about the Easter event that they have at the park... that they have an Easter egg hunt and then she mentioned that the kids win stuff (she didn't say how) but she said that it seems strange to her that the President of the Leagues' kid always wins something big every year and her kid never wins anything.... So, of course I said - Gosh, don't you just hate it when people play favorites? I can't stand favoritism!!!

I know that I have made comments in the stands about Jonathan going all the way across the field... or refusing to throw the ball. All I am supposed to be saying is positive things - but man is it hard. Guess God really knew what he was doing when he put Jake here... guess it's time for some character refining...

So, my scripture for the next 2 weeks is:
"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