God’s Word, Your Words

One of the greatest spies of all time, Kim Philby, betrayed British secrets to the KGB for more than thirty years. This earned him the name “the Napoleon of deception, the greatest mole of them all.” A New York Times editorial said of Philby and his fellow double agents, “Beyond information, their greatest service to Moscow was to spread the poison of suspicion, setting ally against ally.”

 Although the book of Proverbs becomes mostly a collection of individual sayings from chapter 10 onwards, there are still a few running themes we should notice. One of them that features prominently in today’s chapter and our opening story is the power of words and control of the tongue. A few chapters back, I skipped over the seven abominations the Lord hates. The list starts with “a proud look” and concludes with “one who sows discord among brethren.” Between those two are five other acts of betrayal, and each time another member of the body is involved. This is succinctly addressed in Eugene Peterson’s The Message: 

eyes that are arrogant,

a tongue that lies,

hands that murder the innocent, 

a heart that hatches evil plots, 

feet that race down a wicked track,

a mouth that lies under oath,

a troublemaker in the family.   

 Words cut deep. They can be cruel, clumsy, and careless — as far too many of us know- affecting self-esteem and bodily health. While a timely word can have an enormously positive effect, the opposite is also true. Like a prairie fire, it can cause strife, discord, and division. These sins of speech include subtle hints, suggestions, and innuendoes. 

 While Solomon wrote in chapter 10:19, “He who restrains his lips is wise,”; James said, “No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.”  If we think that Christians do the blessing and non-Christians do the cursing, we must remember that James was writing to Christians. 

 According to David Pawson, four categories of words should be on a Christian’s lips[1]: 

• Honest words — the straightforward ‘yes’ or ‘no.’
• Few words — the less said, the better.
• Calm words should be spoken from a cool spirit, as a hot temper is rarely beneficial.
• Apt words — a word matched to the occasion, shaped for the benefit of the hearer or reader, can bring great joy.

 GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Speech, as listed here by David Pawson, needs time for reflection. At the same time, it reflects the heart where the words originate. Thus, it gives us a glimpse of a person’s character. Imagine a person’s words are worth what he or she is worth. As such, may we overflow with words of encouragement and love that will benefit and bless all who come into contact with us this week! 

  [1] Unlocking the Bible, pg 396, 397