Whatever is … admirable

Do the words we speak to others matter?

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. —Philippians 4:8 NIV (emphasis added)

This part of our verse has the widest variance in translation. The NIV (above) renders it “admirable” (/adm(ə)rəb(ə)l/) but reading some of the other translations will add to our understanding: 

• whatever is commendable (ESV)
• whatever is of good repute (NASB)
• whatsoever things are of good report (ASV)

The Greek word is euphēmos which means something that “sounds good” or “words of good omen.” It’s only used in the New Testament once, right here in Philippians 4:8. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon indicates it refers to words spoken with good intention toward others.

What’s clearest to me in studying the word is how much our words impact our thoughts and our relationships. To think on something that was spoken with good intention does, indeed, buoy our spirits and guard our minds against a negative pattern.

I make a habit of soliciting feedback from event attendees. I view it as one of the best tools I have to improve as a speaker. I don’t always get any input (which I interpret negatively), but I frequently do receive some comments that help me sharpen a message or bring additional clarity to my line of thinking. I think this is part of the “iron sharpening iron” that Proverbs 27:17 speaks of, so I seek it with humility from my listeners. After a recent speaking engagement, I received feedback that one attendee was very dissatisfied with my efforts. She felt I missed the mark. (For the record, I harbor no ill-will towards her for her opinions. I’ve spent time evaluating whether and how to integrate her thoughts into my repertoire, so I can better serve the Lord.)

But the pessimist in me felt defeated by it initially.

Pessimist: That was a wasted effort. Clearly, I failed and God must not have been honored. Should I even be a speaker? (Yep, there it is: extrapolating from ‘one’ to ‘all’.)

And then I had to take Paul’s words to heart. To think instead on the many words that had been spoken to me from the same event that were affirming and, more importantly, indicative of the ways God had used me to un-hinder and bolster faith.

In choosing to dwell on the life-giving, helpful, and instructive feedback I received, I was able to refocus my daily labors as a writer and speaker. I’m pressing into what I believe His calling is on my life.

Optimist: Not everybody will love me or the things I say. But God allowed me to see some of the fruit of my labor for Him, and I will rejoice in that good gift.

Now, instead of a pervasive belief that I wasn’t used of God because of one person’s response (though perhaps also well-intentioned), I have a much more balanced perspective. And, whatever the human response is, I must sit before the throne and listen most intently to the words of my King.

His words are always true and well-intentioned.

Have you “been there”? Tell me how you’ve handled it and whether this verse will help you in the future. 

This post is part of a 31 day series entitled “Think on these things: Learning optimism.” For a full catalog of all the posts, visit the first page in the series by clicking here.