The Power of Words
Words are powerful.
Growing up my mom periodically said, “Watch your mouth!” Of course, at one stage, I would pretend to take that literally and twist my eyes to look down at my mouth. I don’t remember that stage lasting very long as it seemed to put me in greater danger! A few times, Mom threatened to wash my mouth out with soap if I used anything less than ‘clean’ words. Another time, I was upset with a friend and decided to mimic him by taking the Lord’s name in vain. What I didn’t realize was that Mom had walked up behind us. I nearly had a heart attack!
While I remember feeling terrible about using my words to dishonor the Lord, I didn’t fully understand the power of words. I wouldn’t learn this until years later when I was working in the Psychiatric Emergency Department.
A young lady of about 20 years old had been brought in because she was suicidal. As we dug into her story, we realized her negative emotions and thoughts were because she was not getting straight A’s at Syracuse University. We called her parents and Dad began driving from Kentucky to pick her up.
I met Dad the next day at the front entrance and walked him through a couple locked doors to where his daughter had been provided a bed. As a dad myself, I was so thankful to be able to reconnect this man with his hurting girl. That is, until I heard him greet her by saying, “Hey Dummy!” All at once, my heart broke for her, and I felt anger toward him. He did not realize the power of his words and how they were driving his daughter to the brink of despair.
Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (NIV) The New Living Translation puts it this way: “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.”
In this day and age, filled with racial tension, wars, an upcoming political election, the general political scene and more, we need to be even more careful with our words. Every law, policy, decision and relationship is communicated to others through the use of words. And these words have the power to bring life or to kill.
In Jeremiah 15, the prophet complains to the Lord for the suffering and injustice he experienced at the hands of his own countrymen. But he stepped across the line when he accused God of being unreliable and even deceptive. The Lord replied, “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless words, you will be my spokesman.”
No one can make you speak worthless words. Each of us is responsible for what comes out of our mouth.
In his letter to the Ephesians, the Apostle Paul said that part of how we live a life worthy of the calling we have received is that we are not to allow “any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit (give grace to) those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29, NIV)
So, what about your words?
Are they worthy words? Do they build others up, even if they are initially hard for the other person to hear? Do your words bring benefit and give grace? The consequences will tell you what kind of words you are using. The fruit will be life or death.
As we reflect the Lord’s character in this dark world, let’s use our words wisely. We want to bring life to others. I have found that it is worth it, as Mom said, to “watch your mouth.”