The Fireplace

Does your house have a fireplace? Growing up a Floridian in the Sunshine State, we never had a need for a fireplace in our house. I always wanted to have one because there is something special about gathering around the fire. We have one now and I love it. During cold weather it serves as the focal point of our living room. We also have a fire pit outside that is fun to sit around, whether we are making s’mores or just enjoying the warmth. 

The fireplace is something people sit around. It brings not only warmth during cold, but a feeling of warmth as people sit around and talk. There is a sense of togetherness around the fireplace. The Latin word aedes is related to the idea of fireplace, and it is the word that is used to give us the English word edify.

Ephesians 4:29 instructs Christians, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” The manner in which Christians speak is pictured as the same feeling of a family sitting around the fireplace. The word is intended to portray peace and harmony between friends and family. Does that describe your communication? Some people seem to have a penchant for negativity and criticism. Instead of using their words to build up, they use them to tear down. Their pessimism is like throwing water into the fireplace. 

Maybe instead of negativity you tend towards anger. You lose your temper and lash out at people. Perhaps you are known for your crude language and innuendo; you turn everything into an off color joke. This is not fireplace talk. The worst part is when the unsaved world reads the pessimistic, angry, crude, complaining of church members, and they associate that type of speech with our God.

Part of the problem is that the television has replaced the fireplace as the focal point of the living room, and instead of people talking, they listen to other people talk. I am not anti-TV, but most of what people listen to on it is garbage. As we fill our minds with junk, we soon find it coming out of our mouth.  

Paul said to stay away from corrupt (literally “spoiled”) words, and should strive to use only edifying words. Before you speak, ask yourself, “Is this how I should talk? Is this how people talk around the fireplace?” Let your words be seasoned with salt, and speak only that which is edifying.