Do My Words Really Matter?

“But the human tongue can be tamed by  no man…With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God’s likeness! Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.”–James 3: 8a,9-10 AMP 

I’ve been on social media for the past eight years and in that time I have posted my share of photos. Family photos, work related photos, friends, pets, school, recipes; you name it and I will most likely have it somewhere in my collection of galleries. I enjoy posting cartoon quips, puns and plays on words, things that tickle funny bones and help to lighten souls and moods. Memes containing Scriptures, posts with links to articles which will hopefully inspire. Words to encourage and admonish. Words that speak life.

There is one meme in particular that has leaped off the virtual news feed page and made its home inside me. It contains a graphic of a young woman glancing at the mirror, her face, body, hair, her entire being is made up of words. The caption simply reads, “If the words you speak were to appear on your skin, would you still be beautiful?” If the words you speak were to appear on your skin, would you still be beautiful?  Let that sink in for just a moment.

Words are containers of power. Do you know this? Words are containers of power. Words have the ability to build up, to encourage, to comfort, to edify. They are used to elicit laughter and joy. Words can bring knowledge and clarity. On the flip side they also have the ability to hurt, to crush, to wound, to destroy. Words abuse, manipulate, cheat, lie. They are used as instruments of gossip and slander, murmuring and complaining.  Matthew 15:18 tells us,  “But whatever comes out of the mouth comes from the heart…”  Luke 6:45 adds, “The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart.”  Words begin as seeds in our mind which, over time, become rooted and grounded in our souls. The author of Proverbs puts it this way: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].”

Our words are what has been called a “barometer of spirituality.” Why? Because they bring to light what is in the recesses of our heart. To look at a tongue, you wouldn’t think of it as anything great or capable of much. The reality is our tongues (words), be they small, have the capability of more damage and destruction than any force of nature. This past month in my hometown a fire broke out in an apartment complex due to fireworks being set off on the balcony. As a result more than 16 people were left homeless and having to start over from scratch. Donations and drives were started for these families; food, clothing, toys for the kids. Local hotels offered each family rooms at a discounted rate. Little by little all involved have begun to rebuild. Homes and lives are slowly being restored. James points out that “the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).” (chapter 3 v.6) 

How many hearts, how many souls, how many minds are still left to put the pieces back together from words that have cut to their very core? How many lives have YOU cut down with your words?

Now I ask you…

Think back to the meme shared at the beginning of this writing. If your words were to appear on your skin, would you still be beautiful? Can you answer with an honest yes? Or is God speaking to you in this area?

Devotional Time 

Take a moment in this time to read James chapter 3. Read it slowly, meditate on it. Take a moment and ask God to reveal any areas in your life regarding your words that may be in need of change. Do you go to lunch with a group of friends after the worship service and spend that time gossiping about the pastor, worship team, what this one or that one happened to be wearing? Do you sit in the break room at work with your fellow associates and complain about how much you hate your job. your boss, etc? Be open and honest before God. Be bold enough to lay yourself bare before Him. Ask His help in learning to control your tongue and your words. Ask His help in learning how to speak blessings rather than cursing, If you keep a journal write these things down; don’t forget to record the results as well!