Watch Your Words

​One of the greatest lies of all times goes like this: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
 
How amazing it is that mistaken parents actually teach this misguided and false philosophy to their bewildered children who have been taunted by the bruising words of playground bullies. All of us know from painful, personal experience that WORDS CAN HURT.   
 
·      The truth is: Sticks and stones can break bones and words can hurt or heal.
 
 The wisdom writer Solomon has something important to say about our tongues power.
 
 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”   Proverbs 18:2
 
According to our scripture, our tongue (the words we speak) possesses power to bring life and death to our hearers. Both death and life can reside in words. Words are either destructive or constructive. Words beat up or build up. Our words either level people or lift them up in life.
 

• Words can hurt. But WORDS CAN ALSO HEAL!

 
Psalm 107:20 states “For God sent His word and healed them from al their destructions.” God’s Word heals. That being the case, it is important for Christians to speak words that bring life. Proverbs 4:20-22 tells us that God’s words bring “life and health” to living.
 

• The words of God are good words that bring goodness into the lives of people.

 
Child of God: Do you watch your words? Are you careful about what you say and how you say it? What kind of fruit comes out of your mouth? Hurtful or healing words?
 

• God’s people are to speak God’s word.

 
The Apostle Paul gives us clear directions concerning the kind of words Christians should speak.  He writes “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word good for edification, according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those hear.” Ephesians 4:29
 
Born and raised in Washington State, I love Delicious brand apples. Years ago I grabbed a big, bright red, Delicious apple from our fruit bowl, washed it, and sunk my teeth into what I thought would be a juicy, crisp bite of fresh fruit.
 
To my surprise, I bit into a soft, rotten spot deep inside the shiny apple. Yuk! Icky it was to say the least! With a lightning fast reaction, I spit the brown-colored, slimy, goop into the awaiting jaws of the garbage disposal. Then I ran out the back door, tossed the rotten apple into the woods, smashing it on one of the towering oaks bordering our backyard.
 

• Rotten fruit. Good for nothing. Worthless.

 
The phrase Paul uses “unwholesome word” means rotten fruit. The meaning is crystal clear. No rotten fruit is to proceed from the mouth of God’s people. No impurity, profanity, swearing, off-color words, coarse jesting, cursing, filthiness, immoral, hateful, demeaning or character assignation speech. Our society is a cesspool of unwholesome, rotten fruit words.  
 
Instead, Paul tells us what kind of words to say.
 
1. Speak words that BUILD UP. Everyone needs edified (built-up) from time to time. We need to hear words that build and lift us to rise above the challenges of life. The world’s words tear down and destroy self-esteem and self-confidence. Nobody likes being torn down. On the contrary, everybody loves being built up!
 

• Christians words are to build up and make people feel good about God, themselves, others and life.

 
2. Speak words that MEET THE NEED OF THE MOMENT. Speak words that help, not hinder people. When people are wounded by life and perplexed by problems, they need a good word from God. They do not need man’s opinion. Speak words that people need to solve their problems. Words that zero in on the pressing issue. Speak wise words from God’s Word. His Word has the answer for every man’s need. 
 

• Ask God for discernment, wisdom and the right words when reaching out to people in need.

 
3. Speak words THAT MINISTER GRACE. When people are searching, wondering, hurting, or frustrated, they do not need a harsh lecture! Proverbs 15:1 says “A soft answer turns away anger…”      Life can be hard and brutal. GRACE IS THE SOFT TOUCH. Our words need to be full (KJV says “seasoned”) of grace, mercy, comfort and encouragement.
 

• Put a smile on a person’s face by ministering grace to them through your words.

 
PERSONAL EXERCISE: This week, consciously monitor your words. See if they pass Paul’s tests of building up, meeting the need, and ministering grace.
 

• My friend, be careful, not careless with your words.

 
“And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned.”    Jesus Christ, Matthew 12:36-37
 
A Word For Your Week: Watch your words… then you will not have to watch over your shoulder.