Category: Taming the Tongue
Photo by B Tal
Man's words are powerful and effective also. Obviously, we are not God and therefore we cannot simply issue a command and change a barrel of water into a barrel of fine wine, or turn a pile of newspapers into a stack of $1,000 bills. Nevertheless, the Scripture has much to say about the potent impact of the words which proceed from our mouths.
Our words have the capacity to do tremendous good.
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Prov. 16:24)
Anxiety in a man's heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. (Prov. 12:25) "Pleasant words" are not flattery whereby a person speaks falsely to another in order to produce an effect, rather they are good words which provide real help, encouragement, and understanding to another. If a speaker is preparing to give a lecture, and a friend or other member of the audience approaches him or her and says, "I am really looking forward to what you have to say tonight, your words are always a blessing to me," every molecule of that speaker's body suddenly feels like it has been immersed in ice cream. In fact, the lecture just became sweeter for everyone due to the beneficial impact those words will have on the presenter.
When a person is struggling with a relationship or a job search or a school choice or a even cookbook purchase, and someone is able to provide truly helpful information, the recipient of the advice feels like a burden has been lifted or a disease has been cured. The right word from another person is powerful and effective.
On the other hand, our words have the capacity to do tremendous evil.
In several places, the Bible compares the tongue to a sword which pierces its victims. We have all been on the receiving end of such maiming as someone's words have slashed and gashed us until we bled profusely. And, we have all been the slasher, leaving another person with throbbing laceractions. "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me!" is a bold face lie.
Or consider:
A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin. (Prov. 26:28)
When we lie about others, we commit acts of hatred toward them, and our words pound them, grind them, and crumple them until they collapse under the weight. The same is true for pleasing words which are intended to deceive or trick our hearers. All untrue speech leads to someone's destruction.