Never Just Words...

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)

I could barely hold the phone to my ear as the words pierced me through the phone.  The words seared through my joyous countenance as she shot one passionate attack after another.  I listened to her outburst in shock.  Does she know what this is doing to me? I clenched the phone even tighter as my eyes began to well up and my chest began to burn.  It was hard to ignore the physical effects of this verbal attack.  The call ended abruptly and I sat in silence. Astonished.  I wanted to shake it off, but I couldn’t.  The conversation had clearly left me feeling wounded.  Come on Julia, they’re just WORDS.

Are they ever “just words”?…..

There is no better teaching on the power of words than the book of James. Although James wrote his book to the children of Israel many centuries ago, the truths are still applicable today, even for Christian women. Perhaps the best picture of the power of the tongue is the tiny rudder than directs a huge ship through fierce winds. (James 3:4-5) Though the tongue is a tiny part of the body, it can turn a circumstance either for good or bad.

As people, and especially women, we hold the power of life and death in our words, even if we aren’t aware of it. With our mouth we help draw a fallen believer to repentance or push them away and over a cliff. We can help mend a broken relationship or shatter it forever. We can bless our way out of a tough circumstance or can curse our way into a pit of loneliness and bitterness.  We can criticize or edify.

The book of Proverbs states, a woman can tear down her house with her own hands (Proverbs 14:1).  The same is true with her tongue.  Proverbs goes on to say that the wilderness is more desirable than living with a “contentious, arguable, or divisive woman” (Proverbs 21:19).  Why?  Because it’s dangerous to be around a woman that finds pleasure in verbal assaults. Negative words are destructive and we do not have a right to destroy others.

We were not created to drive others away.  For this reason, we must watch how we speak, choosing our words carefully. What a beautiful gift to be able to bring life to another individual through just our words.  We have a treasure in our mouths!  And words should to be treated like a valuable resource.  So choose them wisely.

Let’s pray:

Father God, I thank you that you have given us women so many gifts.  Thank you for showing us how to be good stewards of your gifts.  Let our words be used with wisdom and discernment, with the purpose of building up and not tearing down.  Through our words, let the presence of Jesus Christ’ be made more evident in our lives.

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In Jesus Name

Amen