Words Matter

Today we begin a new series called “The Power of Words.”

Marketers and politicians probably understand the power of words better than anyone else. They spend countless hours trying to come up with a perfect slogan that will stick in people’s heads.

Make America Great Again is just four simple words, but it became an entire movement.

Just Do It – Just hearing those words, do you see an emblem in your mind? Yes; the Nike swoosh.

In both cases, simple words are put together to create something much bigger than the words themselves.

This is a subject I should be an expert in. After all, I speak for a living. Even before I got paid to talk, I talked . . . and talked . . . and talked. I’ve said a lot of words in my life, and occasionally, those words have landed me in hot water! I’ve said too much. I’ve said unkind things that got back to the person I was talking about. I’ve been misunderstood, taken out of context, and understood perfectly at times when I said things I should not have said. I’m sure I’m not alone. Our mouths can get us in trouble.

People may say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Nothing could be further from the truth! Perhaps you remember times when another person’s careless words brought you a life of pain. Maybe you still recall exactly what was said even though it’s been years or decades since those words were spoken.

At the same time, a perfectly spoken word of encouragement or challenge has perhaps changed your trajectory: a teacher who spoke of your potential, or a parent who sat you down when you were going the wrong way and had a serious heart-to-heart conversation with you.

Here’s the thing – because the average person speaks 16,000 words a day, we probably don’t give too much thought to every word that comes out of our mouths. However, there are some words that will change your life or someone else’s life forever.

AND, the Bible tells us every word matters:

Matthew 12:36-37 – 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.

Take a moment to let that soak in. You and I will each have to give an account for every word spoken. I don’t like that much at all. For some of us, our words will bring us to salvation; but for others, they will lead to your condemnation. In this case, the most powerful words ever to be spoken are “Jesus, forgive me. I want to follow you for my whole life.” Those are the words that will acquit.

This is why we are launching into this series, The Power of Words. We need to recognize the power our words have and learn how we can use that power for good.

God’s Demonstration of the Power of Words

Before we examine ourselves, we need to see the pattern God first set for us. He is the One who established the power of a word.

Our Bibles begin with the creation of the world – not through a mighty act or the shaking of a staff, but through a word. Genesis chapter 1 is filled with “And God said. . . .” He spoke, creating into existence. His words had the power to create life.

When you look at the first chapter of John (one of the Gospels with an unusual beginning) you see that John begins by saying:

John 1:1-3 – 1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made, without him nothing was made that has been made.

Here we see that John is calling Jesus “The Word,” and he is describing how Jesus, as The Word, was present at the creation of the world. As Jesus began His ministry, He said that He came to preach. He came to speak the life-giving message of the coming Kingdom of God. Throughout Jesus’s ministry, we see how most of His miracles are carried out simply through words spoken.

“Get up, take your mat and go home,” and the lame man stood and walked away praising God.

“Be still,” and the raging sea waters calmed.

“Lazarus, come forth,” and the dead man came out of the tomb.

All through scripture, we see that God’s words carry immense power. They are more than a means of communication. They bring life, and they change lives.

Life and Death

We must understand that our words have the same power. Maybe we can’t simply speak to a storm to calm it, but our words can still be for good or bad. They can build up or tear down, encourage or criticize, forgive or judge, heal or gossip.

Proverbs 18:21 says it most clearly: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Life or death. Those couldn’t be further apart. Unfortunately, if you are not careful and intentional, you are much more likely to be speaking words of death than you would ever want.

It takes intentionality to speak words of life. We all want that. We want to be a blessing to others, but we have to consider our words more carefully if that is to be what comes out of our mouths. Sometimes it’s too easy – or too tempting – to speak a criticism or a judgment about someone who has just hurt or angered you.

What comes out of your mouth is going to be the fruit you yourselves eat. If you speak life, then that is more likely to come back your way; and if your mouth is constantly tearing others down, you will likely have to eat the fruit (experience the consequences) of those words.

Fountain of Life

Tied to this idea of life, Proverbs 10:11 says: The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life. Imagine a giant fountain in the middle of a city park on a hot day – bubbling over. Such a cooling, peaceful blessing when you’re hot and overwhelmed with crying kids because you thought a picnic on the hottest day of the year was a good idea.

I’ve been on the receiving end of those words of life before, and they were amazing to hear:

• Coach told me he was counting on me to lead the team the next year. So I coordinated team runs all summer, and we made it to State the next year.
• Twice I had men tell me they saw an anointing on my life.
• A pastor’s wife asked me when I was going to recognize God was calling me into ministry. All those moments are what brought me from the world of engineering to ministry.

In those moments, my life trajectory was changed by the life-giving words of the righteous. I experienced the fountain of life, and it made all the difference in the world. I wouldn’t be where I am without these experiences.

Destruction and Death

Yet at other times, I have experienced the opposite of that life. I’ve caught the arrows that bring death and destruction.

• I was mocked by friends in high school – friends from the same team who made it to State.
• I was told I was “so annoying!” One guy, after drinking a few beers, told me that the first day he met me he wanted to punch me in the face. But now he likes me. A really weird compliment . . . I think.

Worse than the words pointed at me are the fires I have set with my own words. I once made my own child cry because I was laughing at his British accent. For those who don’t know, our oldest was adopted from Africa as a teen, and somewhere along his path he learned English with an accent. I wasn’t trying to be mean, but a careless word brought a deep wound to my son, and I found him crying in his bed.

James, the brother of Jesus and pastor of the church in Jerusalem, wrote one of the earliest books of the New Testament. He must have seen how big an issue an uncontrolled tongue was becoming in his church because he spent a considerable amount of time talking about how destructive uncontrolled words can be.

James 3:5-8 – 5Likewise, 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. 6The 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. 7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Here we see the tongue – a representation of our words – compared in two analogies:

• Fire – James speaks of how a small spark can set off a full forest fire. That’s a picture we can understand. Out in California, one foolish cigarette butt tossed out the window of a car can become a blaze that burns thousands of acres. In the same way, one wrong or hurtful word can bring nations to war. It can cost you your job. It can end your marriage. A foolish and hurtful word that someone never gets over can escalate quickly.
• Deadly Poison – Then James ends by saying the tongue is full of deadly poison. Your words can get into people and kill them from the inside.

While the righteous speak words that are a fountain of life, foolish words are fire and poison that bring Destruction and Death.

How Do You Use Your Words?

So far I doubt I have said anything that surprises any of you. You all know how words can be a blessing or a curse. However, because they are constantly coming out of our mouths, we don’t give much time to analyzing how we are using our words and how they are affecting others. That’s what I want you to do this week.

• Evaluate: I want you to evaluate how you are using your words:
  • Are you careful?
  • Do you seek to be a fountain of life to others?
  • Do you recognize the opportunity you have to be a fountain of life?
  • Or are you setting fires through careless words?

• Take a Word Inventory. Each night this week, before you go to bed, take an inventory of the words you spoke that day. If you are going to give an account to God, think about what that accounting will look like. Ask for forgiveness, and seek God’s grace to move from being a fire of death to a fountain of life.
• Intentionally Be a Fountain. This week, choose to be a fountain of life with your words. Tell someone what they mean to you. Send a note or a card to someone who might be feeling forgotten. Praise someone for doing a job well, or thank them for something small they might never hear appreciation for.

Conclusion

Here’s the thing –

• Careless words end marriages. They speak of death to your partner and create chasms between you two.
• Careless words create toxic workplaces. One fire-spreading co-worker can set the whole team ablaze with gossip, blame, and criticism.
• Destructive words even divide churches. Nobody intends to split a church, but without intention they can speak words of death and do just that.

Your words matter! They can bring incredible pain and destruction; and yet, you have the opportunity to speak wonderful words of life to people who are parched and thirsty for the life-giving words God wants to speak through you.

You can make a major difference in someone’s life this week. It takes intentionality. It’s a choice. Choose to use the power of your words for good.

You can encourage someone who is down and out and feeling hopeless.
You can challenge someone you see great potential in to reach for higher goals.
You can share the most important words there are – the life-saving message of Jesus – with someone who is far from God.