I took this last week off from writing and social media to turn my focus fully to God; I started the week by studying Proverbs; I highlighted verses that stuck out to me and wrote down the scriptures that had a common theme that applied to my life. Throughout my reading of Proverbs, a common theme kept coming up; watching your words.
Watching my tongue has been something God has been working on me for many years; I have gotten a lot better, but I still catch myself saying something I shouldn’t or talking about someone in an unflattering way even though I know it isn’t pleasing to God.
The bible is filled with scriptures that show the importance of watching our words.
Solomon advises in Proverbs 13:3, Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. David asked God in Psalms 141:3 to Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.
James warns about the dangers of the tongue in his letter; Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell (James 3:5).
No Unwholesome Talk
There are many verses that speak about our words but the main one I want to use today is Ephesians 4:29; Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
When we think of the word unwholesome perhaps, we think of filth or cursing, but the dictionary defines it as not characterized by or conducive to health or moral well-being.
No word that is not good for our mental or physical health or that of our neighbors should be leaving our lips. Just think how many words we would cut out of our day if we followed this verse!
The angry words you yelled at the person who cut you off while driving were they good for that person’s health? Were those words helpful for you or did your angry words cause you to feel frustrated and stressed?
Held Accountable For Every Careless Word
We feel a justification for our words when someone has wronged us and freedom when someone is not present to hear the words spoken against them. Even if our harmful words never get back to the person we spoke them against, we are still accountable to God for them. Jesus states in Matthew that we will give an account on judgment day for every careless word that we speak; that statement right there makes me want to become very aware of guarding my lips.
Words Build You or Destroy You
Watching what we say to and about others is incredibly important, but this command also applies to our own lives. We must speak words that build up our mental and physical health. Everyone makes mistakes whether, small or big, but degrading ourselves for them is not helpful; saying statements like I’m so stupid or What an idiot may seem small at the moment, but they are shaping the view you have of yourself. Those words also contradict the word of God, which says you are the image of God and that you were fearfully and wonderfully made.
Words can Overly Glorify Satan
Another example of this is speaking sickness; we must be careful what we speak about our bodies. I often hear women talking to each other about what they are suffering in their bodies or what sickness they are currently dealing with that week, but we must get away from this unwholesome talk among believers.
Please do not get me wrong; we should be sharing our burdens with others so we can stand with each other in prayer, but that isn’t what we are doing; instead, we are giving undue attention to the problem we are facing. There is a difference between asking someone to pray for a need and making a conversation out of sickness.
Let me show you an example conversation that may seem innocent but is nothing but death talk: Did you hear so, and so was having issues with her arthritis? My mama suffered from that all of her life; bless her heart.
I’ve had a hard week with these allergies; they act up every year about this time, my eyes will be running all day, and I will probably get a headache later. We need to be praying for my friend Susie, she has a cough starting up, and you know strep has been going around lately.
The above conversation gives power to sickness when the God we serve is the healer. Our words should be speaking the truths about who God is and not giving undue attention to the schemes of satan. I learned this lesson early on from my mother because one of my great grandmothers used to say that she would get such and such disease, and she ended up dying with every disease that she said she would get. The power of life and death is in your tongue; speak life.
God’s Word Instead of Our Words
Believers must get into the habit of filling themselves with the scriptures so that God’s words will flow out of us instead of ungodly talk. If we know who God says we are then, when the devil tries to tell you that you are unworthy, you can boldly speak out that you were bought at a price and are valuable in the sight of your savior.
When we become tempted to say words against someone else, we can remember that Christ died for them and counts them as a beloved creation and that they also bear the image of God; when your body tells you that you are getting sick, you can speak out that Jesus died so you could live in health.
I challenge you this week to filter your words through this question; is what I just said unwholesome or wholesome?
Referenced Verses: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+141%3A3&version=NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+13%3A3&version=NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+4%3A29&version=NIV
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James+3%3A6&version=NIV
. https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+12%3A36&version=NIV
Martina says
This is really a great reminder of how words can change your entire life. I always love to read your articles, they are great reminders for me to live my life in ways that are right for Him. Thank you x
Keith White says
This is something I really need to work on especially when driving and watching the news. You have such awesome insight.