From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. These things should not be so, my brothers and sisters. A spring does not pour out fresh water and bitter water from the same opening, does it? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a vine produce figs? Neither can a salt water spring produce fresh water. James 3:10-12
New English Translation
The tongue is such a powerful tool, yet it’s very hard to use. It can either bring life or death. One moment it can make a person feel like they are ontop of the world, and the next it makes them feel like the world’s ontop of them. Why does something so small make such a large empact?
Words are the drivers of action. For example, when you want someone to start a project, do you assume they’ll figure out that’s what you want? Or do you tell them to start the project, what you expect from it, and how long you expect it to take? Exactly, you use words to signal the action that needs taken.
Though it may not seem like that’s what you’re doing at times, that’s what you’re doing every time you speak. Let’s say there is someone that you don’t like at the grocery store. You tried to avoid them the entire time you’re shopping but you both ended up look at the crackers at the same time. Instead of exchanging kind greetings and leaving it at that, you decide to say something a little more… effective. You look at the box of crackers they grab and comment, “Oh, the gluten free ones? Guess you’re finally going on that long needed diet. Am I right?” Sure, you convince yourself it was just a playful remark, but what your true intent was to cause action, you wanted them to feel bad about themselves so that you could feel better about yourself.
Ok, so I made up that scenario, and I sure hope no one related to that exact story, but if you can, you’re human, you make mistakes, it’s not the end of the world. Just think about this, if you can so easily cause negative action, you can just as easily cause positive action. Let’s use the same example. You still don’t like this person, you’ve run into them at the cracker aisle, and you decide to say something. You see the box of crackers they picked up, the gluten free ones, and comment, “I’ve never tried those before. Are they any good? I hear gluten free is kind of hit and miss and haven’t been brave enough to try them.”
Ok, so in this scenario you haven’t technically said anything ground breaking or easily identifiably nice, but think about what you’ve just done. You really don’t like that person, yet you were mature enough to start a pleasant everyday conversation with them by making a simple comment that doesn’t commit to anything more than just civil conversation in the store. You’re not saying you want to be friends with that person, nor denying the fact that you probably still don’t like them, but you’re not using your words to activate negative action. Pretty cool, right?
So, why am I so fixed on this whole words thing? Because one of my biggest weaknesses is my mouth. I have a hard time regulating what I say. It seems totally chill and no problem in my brain, but when it comes out it’s rude and hurtful. There’s something that I personally need to learn and understand, words are equal to actions.
People like to hide behind the cliche, “He’s all talk, no action.” However, talk is the beginning of action. However you talk, whatever you talk about, that eventually turns into your actions. Your words become a part of who you are, whether you are speaking about yourself or others. Not only are you shaping yourself, but you are shaping others. What you say about others affects how they act and what they think about themselves and others. Who knew we had that much power?
So, how are we using our words? To uplift people and make them strong? To help ourselves become more like Jesus? Or like the weapons of an assassin prepped and ready to kill? I personally want my words to be life giving for myself and others. That’s why I’ve started praying that God will take over my heart, my mind, and my mouth. I challenge you to join me in this prayer. It’s important that we realize we cannot make this improvement on our own. Only God has the power to help us through this. So, let’s lean on the one who can do it all.
