Proverbs 12
The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,” But the mouth of the upright will deliver them. Proverbs 12:6 NKJV
He who guards his mouth preserves his life, But he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. Proverbs 13:3 NKJV
The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil. Proverbs 15:28 NKJV
Words contain real power. God spoke the universe into existence through the power of His words: “By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen” (Hebrews 11:3, NLT). We must remember that since we were created in His image, our words also have power, but that means that we need to keep them under control and use them appropriately. Jesus said, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak” (Matthew 12:36, ESV). This is serious stuff! The Bible repeatedly warns us about being careful with what we say and how we say it. Words can encourage and build someone up, or can tear someone down and cause long-term damage. “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences” (Proverbs 18:21, NLT). If used improperly, our words can actually destroy someone’s spirit, and even stir up hatred and discord, which Scripture also warns against: “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community” (Proverbs 6:16-19). In today’s culture, our words refer to not only what we say, but also the words that are shared on texts, emails, and social media. Regardless of whether they are spoken or typed, words can have a tremendous impact on the lives of those we influence. As followers of Christ, we should be imitating the example of Jesus with our thoughts, words and actions. His words were full of love and grace: “All spoke well of Him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from His lips” (Luke 4:22). We are representatives of Christ while we are on Earth. This means that we are held to higher standards than the rest of the world and we need to be examples for others to emulate and be drawn to. A Christian who gossips, puts others down, criticizes, lies/exaggerates, speaks harshly, or uses foul or unkind language is hurting the Kingdom of God and will push unbelievers away from Jesus. James 1:26 says: “Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.” If we truly understand and care about the effects of our words, we will think deliberately before we say anything, and choose our words wisely.
Stop before you speak, and ask yourself this simple question: “What impact are my words going to have on those hearing it?”