Power of words

One of the verses that stands out the most is this one:

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

The tongue has the power of life. Our words can bring encouragement and understanding to people; there is great power in affirming someone, in speaking to someone the gifts and talents you see in them, in encouraging them and thanking them. A wise word can also save someone from sin and from death. Remember Romans 10:14-15 - How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? ¹⁵ And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Notice what Paul says – how can anyone be saved unless someone preaches the gospel to them? Our words have the power to bring life. If nothing else, find someone you can encourage by your words, or save from death by your words.

But the tongue also has the power of death.

Proverbs 12:18 - Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

The damage that can be done by words is like the damage from a sword, causing wounds that may heal but will leave scars. The tongue has the power of death – harsh and hurtful words can lead to suicide, murder, war, and all kinds of conflict. And hurtful words and labels, spoken by parents or adults, can cause all kinds of psychological trauma in children that does not go away. Some of you have been called things that have taken a lifetime to try to get over – you’ve been called ugly, or no good, or a loser, a failure. You’ve been rejected, beat up, broken down, and cast aside. And those labels have stuck with you and shaped who you are and the relationships you have.

And of course, poorly chosen words can destroy community through gossip, lies, and slander.

Proverbs 16:28 - A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.

There are people here who are dying because of words that have been spoken to them. There are people here who have been wounded as if they were pierced with a sword, and have not recovered. The tongue has the power of life and death.

Because of how important it is, it’s not surprising that the Book of Proverbs teaches us over and over what wise and righteous speech looks like. Let me share five themes I see in Proverbs about what wise and righteous speech looks like. And as we read, keep in mind James 3:1-6:

James 3:1-6 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. ² We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. ³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.