Ephesians 4:28-29 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. (29) Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

These two verses in Ephesians are an example of contrasting behavior as a believer. It isn’t a matter of sinners steal and saints share. Or only unbelievers talk in a corrupting manner and believers don’t. This letter is written to the saints at Ephesus, so through implication Paul is saying that as believers we are capable of these things as well. Earlier he tells us to put off our old self that pertains to our old way of life and to put on our new self  which is in the image of Christ. The putting on the new self is truly the “living in Christ” part of this letter.

Rather than being a thief that steals, we are to be one who labors honestly with our hands not only to have enough for our own living, but so that we can share with anyone who has a need. In our culture we have jobs that provide for our needs and when we receive a wage increase or promotion, rather than living at the same level our lifestyle changes and once again we are unable to give to those who need. And as we continue for many years in this cycle, many of us find ourselves with enormous homes that become very expensive to keep up, cars, lots of toys and elaborate expenses all the while we are surrounded by those in need who will continue to go without. Jesus says when we give to the least of these that you are giving to Him. When we feed the hungry, we do it unto Jesus. When we give the thirsty a drink, we do it unto Jesus. When we clothe the naked, welcome a stranger, or visit the sick or imprisoned, we did these things unto Him and we inherit the Kingdom of God. But on the contrary, when we didn’t feed the hungry or give water to the thirsty and so on, we did not do it unto the Lord. To them they will not inherit eternal life, but eternal punishment.

Then he moves from action to our heart. “Let no corrupting talk” come out of your mouths. What comes out of our mouth is a reflection of what is in the heart. The word for corrupting means rotten or useless. Paul is saying here that our speech needs to build up the body of Christ and be filled with grace and not to be rotten and useless. When our speech is corrupt, it is a pretty good indicator that we have a defiled heart. (matt 15:18)

I have had times in my life where I’ve thought some pretty unkind things about another person. Sometimes they are really minor things that may cause irritation, but if  I would have said what I was thinking in my heart, it would have been pretty corrupt. And other times I have been so frustrated and angry at someone the words that came out of my mouth even shocked me! When those things happen I am reminded of the true condition of my heart. But it doesn’t have to be just frustration or anger, it can be gossip, or slander, or even crude joking. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

Today I am reminded that my old self can creep in and cause me to behave and speak in ways that are common to my former ways. But as we are reminded in previous verses, we didn’t learn Christ that way. I am a new creation in Christ and the old has passed away and the new life I live in Christ is to be one of renewing the heart and mind, and all of this can only happen when we are living daily in the power of the Holy Spirit and walking in the path of Christ.