Do Our Words Really Matter?

Words are incredibly powerful. They allow us to not only communicate everyday ideas but also are literally the most important factor in doing anything substantial. Without words how could teachers express concrete and abstract ideas to students? How could researchers discuss the ingredients in drugs or even identify those ingredients? How could police officers or military personnel communicate to each other in hostile situations? How would you be able express to someone how you feel about them? Would love be capable without communication? How could we ever learn about salvation or God or our purpose in life?

Steering The Ship

Breaking it down and seeing how important words are, we can certainly see that communication is at the core of existence. That’s why it was so important to God to give us His word, so that we may know about Him and His love, His will, and how to live. While words have been a crucial part of our existence, it’s important to know that every word has significant power. Think about what James says about our speech in James 3:4-6; 9-12.

“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. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 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… With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.”

What Fruit Do You Bear?

Brothers and sisters, our words so powerful! They are like a rudder on a ship and like a small blaze that cause a huge fire. Faithfully controlling our words is essential to being a Christian. If you profess to be a Christian and yet engage in filthy talk, gossip, slander, or allow the tongue to tear down others, then you are not being a faithful Christian. Like a fig tree must bear figs, a Christian must bear Christian words.

Being faithful means that we trust in God and are willing to carry out His will. It also means that we love Him so much that we actually desire (urgently crave) to serve Him and are aware of the consequences of unfaithfulness. Listen to Paul and Christ said about our words.

“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” – Col 3:17

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." Matt 12:36-37

We don’t get to take time outs with their faith. Just because we get irritated or tired doesn’t mean we can forget about keeping our words pure and holy. The fact of the matter is we must refrain from hateful and ugly speech entirely. If we choose to be careless about it, Jesus is faithful to judge us for it. If we’re going to be serious about our faith, we must commit to making our words helpful to each other just as we do our actions. Choose to do as the Lord asks, for he is faithful to keep his promises. Have an amazing week and may God bless you in all your endeavors!

Yours in Christ,

Zack