Our Speech Matters

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Proverbs 25:11).

Words possess power. James calls the tongue a rudder (James 3:3-5) and rudders have the power to move boats in different directions. Words matter and have the power to take our relationships in different directions.

Our words can kill, or our words can give life. Our words will either cause division, embitter, anger, discourage, hurt and demean or inspire, encourage, help, unify, and comfort.

The Apostle Peter, who knew quite often, the power of the right words and wrong words that were spoken, wrote, “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit” (I Peter 3:10). Do you think Peter understood what it meant to regret certain words and reactions? Peter finally learned the benefit of keeping his tongue from evil.

Job, who had companions come and speak to him in his misery, got frustrated with their communication. He wasn’t helped because it was leading in a specific mental direction God didn’t want him to travel; so, he cried, “How long will you torment me and break me in pieces with words?” (Job 19:2). The best thing his companions seemed to do for Job in his miserable state when they came and sat for 7 days not saying a rod to him (Job 2:13).

Our communication matters because words possess power.