Words - Uplifting or Destructive?

According to recent studies, there are over 1,022,000 words in the English language. Before you despair, only about 171,476 of them are in current usage

today. However, every year several thousand new words are added because of discoveries, inventions, or the updating of terms no longer in use. One other bit of data before we move forward - a person uses only 20,000 - 30,000 of these words on a daily basis.

While we may be using and speaking many words on a given day, do we ever take a moment to consider what the impact of those words might be upon those who will hear them, or in the case of written words, those who will read them? The Bible contains many verses that speak of words and the way that they might have an effect upon the listener. One of my favorites is found in Psalm 19:14. My fourth grade teacher in a public school in 1956 had our entire class recite this verse every morning of that school year.

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight, O Lord,

my rock and my redeemer."

Would that verse be reflective of our use of words all the time? Based on my own use of words and what I hear others saying, my guess is that we struggle with keeping all of our speech acceptable to God. Oh, I know that we defend our use of words spoken to others as not being spoken directly to God. But God hears our words and even our thoughts regardless of to whom they were directed. Remember the account of the Lord telling Abraham and Sarah that they would have a son in their old age (Genesis 18:9-15).

They said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?” And he said,

“She is in the tent.” The Lord said,

“I will surely return to you about this time next year,

and Sarah your wife shall have a son.”

And Sarah was listening at the tent door behind him.  

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in years.

The way of women had ceased to be with Sarah.  

So Sarah laughed to herself, saying,

“After I am worn out, and my lord is old, shall I have pleasure?”  

The Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say,

‘Shall I indeed bear a child, now that I am old?’  

Is anything too hard for the Lord?

At the appointed time I will return to you,

about this time next year, and Sarah shall have a son.”

But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,”

for she was afraid. He said, “No, but you did laugh.”

We cannot deny our words spoken or written, for God has heard them all. But also remember that the person to whom we directed our words has also heard and his or her life has been impacted positively or negatively.

Most of us remember the short verse that our parents taught us to say when someone said something to us that was aimed at making fun of us or putting us down:

"Sticks and stones may break my bones,

but words will never hurt me."

However, we know in reality that while some words can lift up our spirits, others can cut deeply into our lives, leaving hurts that may last for a long period of time.

Perhaps the most destructive and disappointing words that are spoken are those that are contained in the context of lies and deception. None of us are given a free pass to lie or deceive others regardless of our position, power, wealth, or popularity. The Bible is filled with reminders of God's thoughts about lying.

"Truthful lips endure forever, but a

lying tongue is but for a moment."

Proverbs 12:19

"Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

but those who act faithfully are His delight."

Proverbs 12:22

"There are six things that the Lord hates,

seven that are an abomination to Him;

haughty eyes, a lying tongue,

and hands that shed innocent blood,

a heart that devises wicked plans,

feet that make haste to run to evil,

a false witness who breathes out lies,

and one who sows discord among brothers."

Proverbs 6:16-19

While most of this article has dealt with what we shouldn't be allowing to come from our mouths and our thoughts, let me conclude with two of the many words that are written in the Bible that focus on the positive emphasis that needs to be the major focus of our words. Here are two verses that draw our attention back to the positive impact our words should have. The first is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 and the second is from Ephesians 4:29.

"Encourage one another and build one

another up, just as you are doing."

"Let no corrupting talk come out of

your mouths, but only such as is

good for building up, as fits the

occasion, that it may give grace

to those who hear."

This week may we be encouragers to others, building one another up in faith and obedience to the Lord. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in the sight of God regardless of to whom we are speaking.