What Is on Your Mind?

What Is on Your Mind?

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Phil. 4:8.

More often than not, these words of exhortation by Paul are being observed in the exact opposite way. If someone sees a brother or sister doing something wrong, something that is not praiseworthy or of good report, that is what he continues to think about, and he spreads his corruption in the company of others. He believes that this is being a “sharp” judge of people. There is a saying that goes like this: “Tell me with whom you keep company, and I shall tell you who you are.” This saying could well be applied in this context. You become like the person with whom you keep company. If you keep all the evil and bad things in mind and are occupied with them, then you will become evil and bad yourself. A person hears and judges according to how he himself is. It is therefore rare that such people ever have anything good to relate, because when they see, hear, or judge anything they only get something bad out of it all.

The Scriptures tell us to do the exact opposite. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Eph. 4:29.

No one is edified by hearing about the others’ follies and shortcomings. No one receives grace or help from that.

Therefore brethren, let us fill our minds with everything that is good, praiseworthy, etc. Let us always be on the lookout for it and be occupied with it. Then, when we come together, we will have an abundance of good things to speak about. Everyone will be edified and exhorted; it will be a way that is worthy of being followed.

By being occupied with the good, Paul had become good himself, so he could say, “The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.” Whatever fills us must necessarily come out in whatever we do and say.

Let us therefore always seek the good. And whenever we see or hear anything good, let that occupy our minds so we can be filled with all goodness, always able to exhort one another. Rom. 15:14.