The world is made of with billions of people, and on this great planet, there are a variety of positions that human beings fill in order to cause the world to run smoothly, and to help our fellow human being. Among us are doctors, lawyers, teachers, preachers, mailmen, store workers, truck drivers, and the list goes on and on. Whatever our calling is in this life, there is not enough in us as an individual to cover every need of every person out there. However! We can do one thing that can at least touch the lives of every person within our circle of influence.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” We each have the power to affect others with the words we speak! Whether by lifting up or tearing down, we have power in our words. A perfectly good day can be ruined by someone saying the wrong things to discourage us. And on the other hand, a terrible day can become better by someone saying the right things to lift our spirits and show their concern and love for us.
As Christians with the Spirit of God moving in our own lives, the fruit of the Spirit should be evident in our speech. It should be seasoned with love, joy, peace, kindness and more. Jesus taught that in this life, there would be tribulation. What an encouragement it is to hear words of edification and words of hope through a child of God.
Do we give much thought to the words we say, and how they affect others? Proverbs 12:18 says, “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” Our words can be painful and unnecessary, or they can offer healing and edification. We can make a conscious decision to speak words that soothe the hearts of others.
How do we respond when someone speaks to us angrily? Proverbs 15:1 teaches, “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” How we handle conflict can change the outcome of a situation! This applies to friends, family members, co-workers, our spouses, and even children. Answering with softness can defuse many situations, even in difficult situations. Proverbs 15:4 re-emphasizes the benefits of speaking with softness, saying, “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Let us remember that every person is facing a number of different situations in life, just like we are. We can all think back to times when someone’s words made the difference for us because of how they chose to use their words, and which words they would allow to come from their lips. Let’s focus on the positive memories of those who made an impact on us, who possibly changed our mindsets, our self-esteem, and even helped us to become a better person, all because of their words. And as the Bible teaches us to do to others as we would have them do to us, let us season our words with love and use the power of our words for good.
