Reckless Words
“Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18
When God created the world, He spoke it into being. When Jesus walked the earth, He spoke and the lame were healed. When Peter preached his first sermon, he spoke and thousands were gathered into the kingdom. Powerful things happen when we speak. Our words can either accomplish great good, or inflict terrible damage. God has arranged that words are granted incredible clout. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Dr. Dan Allender gives us a profound purpose for our speech: “I am to sow words like seeds to bring a harvest of fruit that blesses God.”*
Repeatedly in scripture, we are admonished to choose and use words carefully in healing and holiness. However, our words are not only instruments of health, but hurt. Words create division; they can wound or create distance through subtle inflection. James 3:5 warns, “The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.” It’s interesting that the book of James does not give us any advice about stopping our tongues. Instead, God’s Word asks us to develop a sense of horror over the damage our tongue can inflict. The sobering reality of how such a small part of the body can do so much good or harm should wake us up to the power of our words.
Look for ways today you can exalt Christ through your speech. Find opportunities to sincerely encourage and commend your co-workers, family members, neighbors or pastor and members of your congregation. Have you spoken damaging words? Do you need to make repairs? Remember, the tongue of the wise brings healing.
*Dr. Dan Allender, “Pastor’s Pen,” The Epistle, January 2006, Calabasas, California, pg 2.
Taken from Joni’s Pearls of Great Price devotional.
