Ephesians 5:4
“Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
Some of my best friends are some of the most sarcastic people I know. And while I love the witty banter that we have and the hilarious jokes that ensue, sometimes there comes a point where we’ve pushed too far and actually hurt each other’s feelings. And I’d be willing to bet you’ve had similar experiences, and probably know someone who frequently crosses the line with their jokes and talk. And while that can be fun, how do we rein it in? How can we control what we say, and why should we?
As followers of Christ, what we say matters. We represent Jesus, and as such, the things we say should as well. Now I’m all for a good joke, and I’m a fairly sarcastic person by nature. But in recent years, as my relationship with Jesus has deepened, I’ve had to think more about what I say and about how it impacts people. Ephesians 5:4 says, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving” (ESV). A pretty strong statement! No filthiness, no foolish talk, no crude joking—seems like a lot of rules. But, when we truly desire to live as Jesus did, it makes sense that we would need to pay attention to what we say.
And there’s a second part to this as well. Paul writes, “let there be thanksgiving.” When you speak, speak well, and be grateful. There’s a shift that happens here, a movement from foolishness to gratitude. When we realize how much we truly have to be grateful for, we gain a better understanding of Christ’s love for us, which then informs how we think about the world and the words we say to others.
As you move through this week, I’d encourage you to make a list of the things you’re thankful for and keep track of how many “crude jokes” you make. Which list is longer?