I titled today’s post “Let My Words Be Few” because the less I say, the less I get myself into trouble.
The Bible has a ton to say about the tongue, about our words, and about the power we yield in what we say. I encourage you to do a topical study of the Scriptures using a few words related to what we say. You’ll be studying for a while.
I work at my desk for long periods of time and I have found that I slouch for hours on end. Slouching has caused all kinds of issues with my neck and my right arm. Not only that, I’m sure I’m not doing my posture any favors. It will only get worse with time if I don’t do something about it.
So I found a simple solution on Amazon – a posture necklace. (My kids jokingly ask if it’s my new life-alert necklace now that I’m fifty.) The necklace is as basic as they come but, when I wear it, it notifies me when I begin to slouch with a little buzz. I’ve been wearing it at work for about three weeks now and I’ve already noticed a big difference. I’ve also noticed, from its constant reminders, I slouch A LOT! I had no idea just how much I need to focus on improving my posture. Recently I’ve begun to focus more attention on the words I speak. I sure wish I had a necklace that notified me when I am about to say careless, hurtful words. Buzz Buzz.
When I was a little girl, I earned names like jabber jaws and “Gabby Hayes. Although I don’t recall specific situations now, I remember my family saying I talked—a lot. Perhaps at that time, with lots of life ahead of me, my words were mostly innocent and naive. But whatever the case, I spoke a lot of words.
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I’ve been thinking a lot about them lately. Did you know that we will give account for every careless word we speak/type/write – yes, even our social media posts?
Every. careless. word.
Matthew 12:34b-37 says,
For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment, people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned.”
Lord, let my words be few.
I recently picked up a book called “Taming the Tongue – How the Gospel Transforms Our Talk” by Jeff Robinson Sr, because I wanted to grow in speaking life-giving words and not words that hurt, discourage, or tear down.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
Proverbs 18:21
Our words have the power to bring life and to bring death. Have you ever thought about the power you yield?
And notice the verse then says, “they that love it,” meaning “they that are talkative” or “love to use their tongue to talk” will reap the fruit of whatever they say.
Will they be words of death or life?
If you have any question about your own words having power over others, think back over your life. Are there words that someone has said that have stuck with you?
“You’re a failure. You’ll never do anything right.”
“You are loved and cherished. I’m your biggest fan.”
Words bring death, and words bring life.
I’m halfway through the book and I’ve been soberly reminded the danger of cunning, crafty words – words that seem “safe” staying within the boundaries of what we think pleases God while trying to get our point across and using our words to hurt others.
I’ve learned not to blurt out whatever comes to my mind but that hasn’t stopped me from saying what I want even when I shouldn’t. I could be speaking carelessly about someone else’s character, situation, or plight. But, frame it just right, and I can get away with it before others. Still, it’s sin to the Lord.
I’m currently in a chapter that discusses how our words can be weapons. The author lists out how we use words in negative, hurtful ways: gossip, slander, critical talk, sarcasm, boasting, flattery, lies and deceit, angry words, grumbling, judgmental words, careless talk.
Check. Check. Yes. That’s me. Yikes. Me, once again.
Why should I be surprised? James 3 speaks candidly about the danger we all face and the power of the tongue.
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us; we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. 6 How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
James 3:2-12
Yesterday, I paid special attention to my words, and I honestly felt entirely defeated by the time I laid my head on my pillow. What a bad habit I’ve fallen into. Just making a little extra effort to be aware of the why behind what I was saying, I saw my motives more clearly. I realize I’ve spent too little time considering the weight and purpose of my words and I’ve given myself a lot of freedom to say whatever I feel. Yesterday, I said words I wish I could take back. But why? It’s not merely an issue of lack of self-control. It’s a matter of the heart. Wrong words come out of my mouth when something’s wrong inside.
Wrong words come out of my mouth when something’s wrong inside.
I frankly identified with Paul.
2So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?
Romans 7:21-24
I love Jesus, so why can’t I get my words under control? My words will always be a reflection of what’s going on in my heart. Only He can deliver me. And this will be a lifelong work of sanctification in me. But I’ve been given a promise.
Romans 6:14 says, For sin will have no dominion over you since you are not under law but under grace.
This is great news! What exactly does this verse mean? In the words of Calvin – “Sin, though it still infects you, shall not lord it over you so as to bring you into condemnation.”
So, when hurtful words seem to rule over me, I can fall on Jesus and His work of grace. This is not just a promise regarding our words but, really, in any struggle with habitual sin. Jesus gives us grace. So what do we do?
Practically, as I face sins that are a daily challenge for me like the difficulty of controlling the tongue, my response is twofold. We find these steps in the book of James.
7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
James 4:7-8
- RESIST that temptation to sin and
- SUBMIT and turn to God and ask for His help
As I am tempted, I will humbly confess the struggle and resist (turn away from) the temptation. Then I will cry out to God to help me. He promises to do it.
Today is a new day, with very few words yet spoken, and I am asking the Lord to:
- make me mindful of my words
- help me to look for opportunities to speak words of life
- give me wisdom when I am tempted to speak hurtful words
- and give me the power to turn and submit to Him, trusting He will help me.
How about you? Have you given much thought to your words? Maybe it hasn’t seemed to matter much. But it matters to God. He takes careful notice of our words and warns us in the Bible of the dangers of the tongue. Just like my posture, bringing attention to my words has made me mindful of the things I need to surrender to the Lord and how the issues of my heart are reflected in my words.
Let’s try this together. Let’s speak words of life in a world full of despair. Let’s be conscious today of our speech and be vessels of mercy and kindness. Let’s surrender our tongues, our words, and our hearts to the Lord today to do what pleases Him. And, let’s trust Him to do what we cannot.
