God’s Word is all-powerful, but our words are powerful also. The language that we choose to use has a powerful effect on how human interaction happens. The Bible testifies of this in James 3:5, “Even so the tongue is a little member [of the body], and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth.” James says this after speaking about how ships and horses are controlled by small means: a rudder and bit respectively. So too, our bodies and the ways that we experience the world are often controlled through the use of our tongues.
We know that the power of the tongue is often not used in an edifying manner. James says later in verse 6 that the tongue is “a fire, a world of iniquity,” and again in verse 8, “it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” Our tongues quite often work contrary to the promotion of the glory of God.
In fact, one of the biggest and hardest things to grasp about how we use language is how contradictory we are in our language. James highlights this by continuing his discussion of the tongue:
Therewith [with the tongue] bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
James then, by inspiration of the Spirit, uses some pictures to help us understand how contrary this use of the tongue is: a fountain and a fig tree. “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” Our use of language to bless and to curse is as absurd as a fig tree producing berries. However, we still do it.
We read much about language use in the book of Proverbs. Solomon often divided his language proverbs into two categories, and these two categories echo the sentiments of James: the words of the wise and the words of the fools. The words of the wise are healing while the words of the foolish are hurtful. Proverbs 12:18-19 says:
There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword [the foolish]: but the tongue of the wise is health. The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
Or, again, in Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Those who guard their tongues and don’t speak hastily prove themselves to be wise.
However, it is not solely a matter of being wise or foolish. There is power in the words we say. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Words can have a destructive power. All-too-well, we know the destructive power of words. Relationships have died simply from words said (or not said). Kingdoms have gone to war. Suicide, depression, anger, distrust, contention in families and churches have all been kindled and fueled by words.
Oftentimes, the warnings given to the foolish users of language are accompanied with violent pictures. Proverbs 12:18, which was referenced earlier, is a good example: “There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword.” These words are like a sword stabbing a person, driving a sharp point into their skin. If deep enough, these words can kill. Likewise, Proverbs 11:9 says that the words of the hypocritical, foolish man shall destroy his neighbor (quite the contrast to our calling to love our neighbor as ourselves).
It is not only others that we hurt when we say cruel or foolish words. Later in Proverbs 11, Solomon outlines the fact that we are hurting ourselves: “He that is cruel troubleth his own flesh.” In fact, foolish language is hated by God. The Lord forbids bearing His Name in vain as well as bearing false witness (Exodus 20). Proverbs 25:18 says, “A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow.” Again, notice the violent wording here. Violence is caused by hurtful words. This brings up one of the other commandments given in Exodus 20: “Thou shalt not kill.” When we say hurtful, foolish things, we are not only hurting and killing our neighbor, we are heaping down upon ourselves the wrath of God for the sins we are committing.
There is a positive side to language use and God has a command in regards to that. As mentioned previously, the words of the wise are healing. Ephesians 4:25,29 says:
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another [within the body of Christ] ... let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
God is commanding us here to use our words to edify, that is, to build up and to heal. God will use our words to minister grace, to uplift, to bring joy and hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. He will even use whatever ability we have to speak other, foreign languages for this same purpose.
The Bible speaks often about the power of kind words. Proverbs 16:24: “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” Proverbs 20:15: “There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel.” These are but a few examples of God’s high praise for the positive power of words. The Bible is full of such examples.
We use our words for good when we minister. When we speak lovingly and caringly about each other and to each other, the sweet message of the Gospel is communicated. We show the love of Christ, even unto those who are strangers, through the way we speak. We know we are unable to do any good, say any good thing, excepting for the work of Jesus Christ. We ought to make that known in our dealings one with another, witness of what the Word has done for us.
Then we ought to remember that God uses human means to accomplish His will. Every Sunday we hear His Word proclaimed through the mouths of sinful humans and yet He uses that word proclaimed by the pastors to save His people unto Him, regardless of nationality, culture, or language. Similarly, God can use our speech for His ends as well. God calls us to rebuke and exhort brothers and sisters in Christ who are walking in sin (Matthew 18, Luke 17, II Timothy 4). God is pleased to use those words which we speak to save and steer His people back to Him. James 5:19-20 says of this:
Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him [having spoken to them about their sin]; let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Wow! That truly is a powerful word that we yield, that it can be used to save a soul from death. We recognize that we are used as instruments. We are incapable of saving anyone. However, Christ, through our words, can and does.
And through all of this, there is a very important aspect to our use of language. A very positive use. We are to use our language, use our words, to glorify God. There is power in praising His Name. Again, the Bible is rich with text speaking to us about the power of praising God with our mouths. Jeremiah 20:13: “Sing unto the LORD, praise ye the LORD: for he hath delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of the evildoers.” Isaiah 63:7:
I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindesses.
Finally, in one of the great anthems of praise to God for his faithfulness, Ethan the Ezrahite in Psalm 89 proclaims:
I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens.
We truly have a marvelous, wondrous God. Let us praise Him with our mouths, worship Him with our singing, and marvel about Him with our lips so that all generations may know what God has done for us, His people.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS
After reading, please answer the Google Classroom Question with well-thought responses to 3 of the 5 questions below, being specific to what was read in Chapter 1. Please label your responses to match the question # below (#1, #2, #3, etc.).
How, as a student, do you find yourself struggling with the conflict of language: to bless or curse?
What comfort do we have despite all our failings with language?
Find a Bible passage, other than those listed in this chapter, which talks about a positive use of language. Write a paragraph describing the meaning of this passage.
Make an application. How can learning a new language be used to help those who are from a different culture than your own?
Make this practical for yourself. What things can you do, with the help of Christ, to better use the powerful language God has given you?