The Life-Giving (or Life-Stealing) Power of Words

“A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” (Prov. 15:4)

In the 2008 film, Doubt, Sister Aloysius is a school principal who rules by fear and mean-spirited discipline. She chooses to focus on other’s faults rather than their strengths and potential. She always believes the worst and her speech breeds cursing and violence rather than blessing and peace. Unfortunately, Sister Aloysius’ pattern of evaluating and treating her students is not at all uncommon in many homes today. Our prisons are filled with those who have never heard words of praise—only cursing—from parents and others.

The apostle James warned us of the dangers of the tongue. It can bring great destruction and violence upon those who are the recipients of our speech, and once spoken, can never be retrieved.

On the other hand, the tongue can also be a tremendous instrument of blessing and peace if we choose to use it that way. The righteous wear their words of blessing like a crown on their head, Proverbs 10:6 declares, and everyone they touch is blessed. 

In a time when our children and grandchildren are confronted with the voices of wickedness and fear in every arena of life, how comforting and empowering will be the voices of the righteous who lovingly speak blessing and truth, and not cursing and lies, into their lives.  What do the words that come out of my mouth produce—life, or a broken spirit?

Grandparents ought to be those impart life-giving words, but it is not always so. Take stock of your life right now. Which flows most easily from your lips – praise or fault-finding?  Are you a problem-seeker or a praise-seeker? Do our children and grandchildren see us as instruments of blessing or cursing?

GRANDPAUSE: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building other up according to their needs…”  Lord, make it so in my life!