By Elias Aslaksen Each thought, each single word, each deed has the effect of either edifying or breaking down. Keeping God’s orders, His laws and commandments, is to edify. Sinning, doing your own will—these are destructive powers. Exhortation, encouragement to everything that is good and useful, chastisement because of the love of Christ, proclaiming the Word of God in truth and spirit, brotherly love and true love toward everyone, each single virtue: generosity, gentle words, reconciliation, forgiveness, forbearance, longsuffering, peaceableness, etc.,—all these things are edifying, glorious, and blessed powers! Reproach and accusations, dissatisfaction and unthankfulness, discouragement and false modesty, sluggishness, laziness, tardiness, unwillingness, procrastination—these are all powers that break down. Also the fear of man and all other human fears; all doubt and mistrust; conceit, being puffed up, pride and haughtiness, as well as being opinionated; all desire to argue and quarrel—all these things break down. “Edify one another, just as you also are doing.” 1 Thess. 5:11. “Building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . .” Jude 20. “Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another. Do not destroy the work of God . . . .” Rom. 14:19-20. “Let all things be done for edification.” 1 Cor. 14:26; Eph. 4:29. As we can see, we are to build something. Think about that. To build means to join one thing to another. This is the exact opposite of tearing apart and tearing down. Think about slander! What a destructive work that is! Abhor it like the plague! Think about suspicion! The depravity of it! Think about laziness, not bothering to read much in God’s Word so that you have riches with which to build someone up when you come to the meetings. “He who is slothful in his work is a brother to him who is a great destroyer.” Prov. 18:9. Therefore he is tearing down—indirectly! Think seriously about that!