Just a simple observation tonight. Words are so important. Obviously words are the primary way we communicate with each other. They are how we express the emotions we feel, the ideas we have, even the basic, everyday things of life. But words are tricky. While they are very effective and necessary to communication, they have a tremendous capability build up or tear down. I have experienced this in my own life on both the giving and receiving ends. I have built up, and I have torn down. I have been built up, and I have been torn down. There are encouraging things that people have said to me, that I still remember. There are things said in simple correction, or observations not even directed at me that still affect the way I act today. There are things people have said from years ago that hurt then and that I still remember today. Those things are healed over with time, but some have scars. There are many verses in Scripture dealing with words. I picked three that communicate the thought well. On the positive side is Proverbs 16:24, which says,
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
That's a great word picture that illustrates the power of positive words!
On the negative side are a couple of verses later in the same chapter. Verses 27 and 28 say,
"An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."
The power of words is incredible. "A whisperer separateth chief friends." It doesn't take a loud person. All it takes is a quiet rumor. And it says that an evil man has fire in his lips.
I have caught myself recently not being as careful with my words as I should be. There is enough talk about words in the Bible that I believe it is extremely important to God; therefore, I want it to be extremely important to me. I want to be a speaker of pleasant words, not someone that tears apart friendships and who people fear because I have "fire" in my lips. It's a funny mental image, but the results are not amusing in the least.
Make a conscious effort this week to build people up with your words!!
"Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones."
That's a great word picture that illustrates the power of positive words!
On the negative side are a couple of verses later in the same chapter. Verses 27 and 28 say,
"An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire. A froward man soweth strife: and a whisperer separateth chief friends."
The power of words is incredible. "A whisperer separateth chief friends." It doesn't take a loud person. All it takes is a quiet rumor. And it says that an evil man has fire in his lips.
I have caught myself recently not being as careful with my words as I should be. There is enough talk about words in the Bible that I believe it is extremely important to God; therefore, I want it to be extremely important to me. I want to be a speaker of pleasant words, not someone that tears apart friendships and who people fear because I have "fire" in my lips. It's a funny mental image, but the results are not amusing in the least.
Make a conscious effort this week to build people up with your words!!
