Sweet or Sour: How Are Your Words?

All throughout the Scriptures, we're reminded of the power of words. By themselves they are neither good or bad, but how we use them, and our intent, determine their impact. Jesus taught that from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matt. 12:34; Luke 6:45), and in the Proverbs we read, "The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips" (16:23, KJV). Because the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9), Solomon admonished "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee" (Proverbs 4:23,24). Obviously, God places a lot of emphasis on the words we speak.

This becomes absolutely important in our dealings with others. The careless use of words can hurt, destroy, humiliate, and provoke other feelings of emotional distress (Proverbs 15:1). However, on the flipside, we see its positive potential: "Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones" (Proverbs 16:24). The pleasant words spoken of are not flattery, flowery words expressed with insincerity or selfish motives, but rather words seasoned with grace that seeks to encourage, edify, instruct, comfort, and which has their foundation in the Word of God. The right words, at the right time, spoken in the right way, are sweet to the soul and literally like medicine to the bones. The Psalmist experienced this when he wrote, "This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened [repaired, restored] me" (119:50).

I believe when David said "Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee" (Psalm 119:11), he was thinking of relationships at all levels, including those with his fellow men. Earlier he wrote, "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (v. 103). The hidden word would permeate his entire being, instruct his tongue, and find its expression in ways that would be pleasing to both God and man.

Undoubtedly, many have been wounded by things said of us, and to us. However what about the things we say of, about, and to others? How are your words? What effect do they have on the people you interact with? It really is worth thinking about.