The Power of Words

This Sunday we’ll dive into a Bible passage about the power of our speech to do harm, great harm.  In 3:1-12, James stresses how much damage our words can do:  “the tongue is a fire, a world of unright­eousness”; the tongue is “set on fire by hell”; “no human being can tame the tongue”; “it is a restless evil”; it’s “full of deadly poison.”  Simply put, our words are capable of inflicting devastation.

The Bible is not subtle here:  when we give into the tempta­tions of gossip, slander, lying, and any other speech sins, we dishonor our Father and hurt our loved ones and mislead an on-looking world and heap misery on our own heads:  it’s lose-lose.  Of course, temp­ta­tion promises a juicy delight in the spreading of such talk, but Satan is a liar and he simply does not deliver what he offers.

We’ll look James 3:1-12 in the eye and take God’s warning to heart.  But it’s important to make sure we’re also hearing what Scripture says about constructive, up-building, hope-spreading, joy-giving speech.  Our words can make a very positive impact:

Ephesians 4:29:  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.  With words we can build each other up in faith; fitting speech is a gift to receive; the aim is to convey God’s grace to our listeners.

Psalm 34:1:  I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. This is a declaration of serious devotion:  at “all times” and “continually” we vow to exalt God in our speech.  Obviously, then, mixing words of faith with destructive talk is not God’s will for us.

1 Thessalonians 5:11:  Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.  And Hebrews 3:13, Encourage one another every day.  And note:  Christian encouragement isn’t just speaking nice, pleasant, affirming, positive words—our message is nothing like the typical motivational speech that makes much of You-You-You.

Rather, our calling is to speak in ways that demonstrate trust in God and that summon others to rest in the strong, loving arms of our Heavenly Father.  Encouragement says, “Look up—fix your eyes on Jesus—he’s our life, our joy!”  Believe it.  And speak it!