Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. - Ephesians 4:29.

But may I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. - Matthew 12:36-37.

What would it take to push you over the edge? Tuesday a 28-year-old woman sat precariously for about four hours on the railing of the bridge connecting Puget Sound to Lake Washington and Lake Union. For three hours police tried to talk her into coming down. Meanwhile it caused a traffic jam as people slowed down to watch. Commuters began to yell at this poor woman urging her to jump. Seattle Police spokesman Clem Benton said, "Commuters were coming by and urging her to jump and that was on the mild side of what they said. I’m not going to repeat the other things they said.” People were yelling obscenities at her and urging her to jump and what happened? She jumped. She finally went over the edge jumping into the water below. She is alive in critical condition with chest and abdominal injuries at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.

One woman who witnessed a portion of this said in an email to me: "I am guilty in the fact that although I said a prayer for her, 30 minutes later, frustrated, a thought came to my mind wondering why she had picked that time of day for this event rather than what had brought her to the point she was, of course I was immediately disgusted with myself for my selfishness. Sometimes I am just overwhelmed at how ugly people are in this world, in regards to their souls, hearts, and personalities....” What would be our response if we had been there? Would we have been one of those yelling, encouraging, and urging her to jump?

In Ephesians 4:29, we are told not to let any unwholesome words to come out of our mouths, and that we should only speak those things that would build up those who listen. Would the woman still have jumped if everyone driving by had been pleading with her not to jump telling her how much God loves her and cares about her? Possibly, but those who urged her to jump don’t know do they? Do they feel guilty about what happened? Do they even care? They ought to care because Jesus says in Matthew 12:36-37 that someday they will give an account for every word that comes out of their mouths. By their words they will be condemned and by their words they will be acquitted.

Let us not push anyone over the edge by our words, but instead may our words hold them back and draw them to the One, who can give them peace.