February | 2020 | terrylhart.com

I have taken the time this morning to do a little Bible study on the impact of our words, what we say. Confining my search to the book of Proverbs, I found the verses listed below as a reference. Confirming what I already knew, the lookup has convinced of how little I practice what I know. It is good however to review these things with a view to reinforcing them in my mind and heart, and especially to be guiding my mouth. If a man is able to tame his tongue, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his entire body as well. And, of course, I am nowhere near that.

Drawing from the Scriptures as mentioned, here are a few take-aways:

What you say can either trap you or liberate you, and you get to choose. How many of us are imprisoned by our own words!

There is no way you will not sin if you talk too much. If you are smart, you will keep your words to a minimum.

Closely associated with the quantity of words you speak, is guarding what you say, controlling what comes out of your mouth. Why? Because you are going to say one of two things: life, or death. If you do this the Bible calls you wise.

How you respond to people will determine the outcome of the conversation as well as make or break the relationship.

Gossip is destructive.

Much good can come from what you say, both in your own life and in the lives of others. Your words, if chosen and spoken correctly, can

1. Be a fountain of life to others; your words can give life to other people

2. Feed many the very thing they need most. This can be words of encouragement, love, good counsel, even correction. The way you feed a person spiritually is through words.

3. Flow with wisdom, bringing forth what is needful and acceptable.

4. Deliver you and others—by which is meant from anyone or anything that may be holding you captive, such as demonic influence, bad habits, evil thinking, generational curses, sickness, infirmity, and so forth.

5. Bring satisfaction to your soul.

6. Bring healing to yourself and others.

7. Make your heart glad.

8. Bring good to you.

9. Protect you.

10. Turn away anger.

11. Spread knowledge and make it acceptable.

12. Persuade others as to the truth, what is right and just.

13. Earn you a good living.

14. Garner the love of others for you.

15. Please the King of kings.

This is just a short list; much more can come from a more comprehensive approach. What I have written though is sufficient to make the point as to just how vital are our words to our spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health. And not only ours, but others as well. “How delightful is a timely word!”

Here are the Scriptures I looked up from Proverbs:

If you have been snared with the words of your mouth,

Have been caught with the words of your mouth,

(Proverbs 6:2 NASB)

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,

But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

(Proverbs 10:11 NASB)

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable,

But he who restrains his lips is wise.

(Proverbs 10:19 NASB)

The lips of the righteous feed many,

But fools die for lack of understanding.

(Proverbs 10:21 NASB)

The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,

But the perverted tongue will be cut out.

(Proverbs 10:31 NASB)

The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,

But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.

(Proverbs 10:32 NASB)

The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood,

But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.

(Proverbs 12:6 NASB)

An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

But the righteous will escape from trouble.

(Proverbs 12:13 NASB)

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,

And the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.

(Proverbs 12:14 NASB)

He who speaks truth tells what is right,

But a false witness, deceit.

(Proverbs 12:17 NASB)

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,

But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

(Proverbs 12:18 NASB)

Truthful lips will be established forever,

But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

(Proverbs 12:19 NASB)

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord,

But those who deal faithfully are His delight.

(Proverbs 12:22 NASB)

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down,

But a good word makes it glad.

(Proverbs 12:25 NASB)

From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good,

But the desire of the treacherous is violence.

(Proverbs 13:2 NASB)

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life;

The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

(Proverbs 13:3 NASB)

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod for his back,

But the lips of the wise will protect them.

(Proverbs 14:3 NASB)

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

But a harsh word stirs up anger.

(Proverbs 15:1 NASB)

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,

But the mouth of fools spouts folly.

(Proverbs 15:2 NASB)

A soothing tongue is a tree of life,

But perversion in it crushes the spirit.

(Proverbs 15:4 NASB)

The lips of the wise spread knowledge,

But the hearts of fools are not so.

(Proverbs 15:7 NASB)

The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

(Proverbs 15:28 NASB)

A man has joy in an apt answer,

And how delightful is a timely word!

(Proverbs 15:23 NASB)

Righteous lips are the delight of kings,

And he who speaks right is loved.

(Proverbs 16:13 NASB)

The heart of the wise instructs his mouth

And adds persuasiveness to his lips.

(Proverbs 16:23 NASB)

He who restrains his words has knowledge,

And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.

(Proverbs 17:27 NASB)

Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;

When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent.

(Proverbs 17:28 NASB)

The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;

The fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.

(Proverbs 18:4 NASB)

A fool’s mouth is his ruin,

And his lips are the snare of his soul.

(Proverbs 18:7 NASB)

The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,

And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

(Proverbs 18:8 NASB)

With the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach will be satisfied;

He will be satisfied with the product of his lips.

(Proverbs 18:20 NASB)

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit.

(Proverbs 18:21 NASB)

There is gold, and an abundance of jewels;

But the lips of knowledge are a more precious thing.

(Proverbs 20:15 NASB)

He who guards his mouth and his tongue,

Guards his soul from troubles.

(Proverbs 21:23 NASB)

And my inmost being will rejoice

When your lips speak what is right.

(Proverbs 23:16 NASB)

He kisses the lips

Who gives a right answer.

(Proverbs 24:26 NASB)

Like apples of gold in settings of silver

Is a word spoken in right circumstances.

(Proverbs 25:11 NASB)

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

(Proverbs 29:20 NASB)

As Christians, we march to a different drum. Or at least we should be. Ours is not the kingdom of the world; instead, it is the kingdom of God.

We’ve a different King.

In the world of men there is all manner of political posturing, accusations, lies, distortions of the truth, and a lot of big money to move people into positions of power so they rule can rule over the masses of lesser power. Once there most all look to them for good and blame them for their bad. So called public servants, most are there out of greed and the lust for power.

We, as informed Christians, understand they are there because God put them there, and there is One who is the King of King’s and Lord of lords. Or, in our day we might say, the President of presidents.

In New Testament times this got people killed. Worldly leaders don’t like sharing power. They like being worshipped. We however, worship only one Leader, the Lord Jesus Christ. Who knows but maybe it will get us killed too.

We live by different rules.

There are the governments of the world, and then there is God’s government. These are often diametrically opposite each other. While we in America enjoy the best of all governmental systems, still it can be miles from what God would have.

The world’s system has bazillions of laws and ordinances which control just about every facet of daily life. In some countries it is pure bondage. In ours there are so many laws that we all inevitably break some every day.

In God’s government there are but two: you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength. And you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Everything else stems from these two.

Our reason for being is different.

In America there is what is called the American dream. You graduate from High School, go to college, find a spouse, buy a house, have kids, retire at 65, play golf or travel, then you die. It is all about getting ahead, having nice things, and being happy.

Jesus however, said sell all you have and that people will hate you if try and live righteously. That Christians partake of the good things of modern day United States is a plus. Or, maybe it isn’t.

What I mean to say is that we live for something other than accumulating things, for being happy. While I want to be happy (who doesn’t), I would rather be serving the King of kings and let that take me where it will. Ours is a kingdom purpose. If we believe God’s ways are best, and that what Jesus Christ says is absolutely true, then that is our purpose, to not only live that way, but further it. I note that multitudes of others are trying to shove the world’s ways down everyone else’s throats; Christians however have something to offer that is so good it just needs to be told.

We view the world a different way.

Christians, at least those who read and understand the Bible, view things from God’s perspective and not man’s. That is to say, spiritually. They see men as spiritual beings, not just flesh and blood. The see the world as the stage on which the war between good and evil plays out. They recognize evil when they see it. They know there are masses of unseen spiritual forces, both of the good kind and the bad kind. They see through people and things because they are spiritually discerning. Most of all, they view the world and the people in it through the eyes of love.

Our future is entirely different.

Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, in His death, burial, resurrection, and living rule, have the hope of eternal life. They know that this life is not all there is; that there is a world beyond to which the Bible and others testify. They understand death to be door to eternal life spent with God.

People of the world have death to look forward to, a death that is final. All die, for sure; but not all go to heaven.

In what can only be deemed the great perversion of Scripture, many have come to believe that if they simply lead a good life they will enter through the pearly gates. They believe that if their good outweighs their bad, they have it made. But it does not work that way. The Bible teaches that all our ‘righteousness’–our good deeds–are as filthy rags. No matter how good they are, they are unacceptable to God as tickets to eternal life. It is only the righteousness of the Lord Himself, conferred upon His believing children, that merits entry into that eternal kingdom of the Lord and Savior.

And then, of course, are those who accept as fact that there is nothing beyond this life. I held to this belief once. You live and you die, and the worms eat you. There is nothing past now. So you do as you please as there are no consequences to your good or your evil.

We speak a different language.

Words mean something, and to the Christian, God’s words mean everything. Yes, we utter such things as “Praise God,” and “Hallelujah,” but there is more than these alone. When we speak of life, we understand it to mean as from God, coming at the very moment of conception. When we use the word “love,” we know that it has nothing to do with self-gratification and warm fuzzies; instead we believe it to be a life laid down for others. When we say we have hope, it means far more than baseless expectations built on fanciful notions; it is planted and grows tall upon the promises of God.

The things we value are different.

For the Christian, what matters most are God and His word. These rank supreme among the things that we esteem important. From these come love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Ours is not a race to accumulate as much as we can in this life; it is, rather, the pursuit of God and His will for our lives. What pleases God is what we’re after, not what pleases men.

The Bible says that we believers are “a peculiar people, a chosen generation, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). To those outwardly we may look the same as others, yet inwardly, and by the manner of lives we lead, we are of a completely different sort than the rest of the world. We march to a different drumbeat, that of God’s not man’s.

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