The words that we speak to ourselves and others have emotional, physical and spiritual implications. The “tongue” is used throughout Scripture in both literal and metaphorical ways, especially in Psalms, Proverbs, and James. The tongue is a “small part of the body” (James 3:5), yet Proverbs 18:21 says it “has the power of life and death.” This holds true whether we’re speaking of spiritual, physical, or emotional “life and death.”
Encouragement often comes through spoken words. So does discouragement. Proverbs 12:18 says, “Reckless words pierce like a sword.” Emotional wounds cut deep so what we say can have a profound effect on others both postive and negative.
Physically, a judge or jury, by simply saying a word, can cause a person to be killed or to live. Words often save lives: a doctor advises surgery, a weatherman issues a tornado warning, a counselor gives hope to a suicidal person. Additionally, murders are often initiated because of arguments or verbal confrontations. Think about it, in the sense of causing adverse action, the tongue does indeed have the power of life and death.
Lastly, from a spiritual implication standpoint Jesus said that “the good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him” (Matthew 12:35). Isaiah places words on par with actions for displaying a sinful heart (Isaiah 59:2-3). “Men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken” (Matthew 12:36). Let me be clear, in our own strength we are utterly unable to “tame the tongue” because “it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). However, a tongue under control is a mark of the Spirit’s power. Apart from accepting Jesus’ atonement on the cross (salvation), we will be judged according to our words: “For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).
At the end of the day, we are commanded to control and tame the monster behind our ivory bars [tongue]. We are instructed to “keep [it] from evil and from speaking lies” (Psalm 34:13). This is includes ourselves, others, and obviously God. My brothers and sisters, our speech should consistently honor the Lord: with the tongue “we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers [sisters], this should not be” (James 3:9-10).
So the real question of the day is are you going to speak life…..or death? I pray we all choose the former and not the latter!
4GIVEN 