Your Words Have Power
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Proverbs 18:21
Upon first glace with this Scripture, it might seem confusing. Eating the fruit from a tongue?
When the word “tongue” is used in the Bible, it typically means “the words we speak.” This Scripture is conveying the power that our words have — they can produce joy and comfort (life) or produce destruction and fear (death). Every single one of us will face the consequences for what we speak, whether good or bad (we will eat its fruit).
Is our speech actually that powerful?
If God brought forth the existence of our universe by speaking, there is certainly power that comes from how we speak to one another.
We can be changed in an instant by just one thing that someone tells us.
We never forget the words spoken by the people we look up to.
We form first impressions based on how a person spoke to us.
Think about all of the destruction that comes from negative speech, but also think of all the strength that comes from positive speech.
What is speech that bears bad fruit?
Lying
The Lord detests lying and it is included in the Ten Commandments. He hates lies because He is the Truth, but Satan is the father of lies. Satan wants deception to run deep, and it starts with one small twisting of the truth.
Proverbs 26:28 says, “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” If truth and love belong together, then lies and hate belong together. If you love someone, you will tell them the truth to prevent further ruin in their life.
One little lie can cause a domino effect of destruction in our lives and the people’s around us. Ultimately, the liar will bear the fruit from their lies, which is untrustworthiness.
Gossip and Slander
Proverbs 11:13 says, “A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” Where does the temptation to gossip and talk behind people’s backs stem from? People typically gossip because it makes them feel better about themselves. The enemy also wants to cause anger and division which is the exact fruit that gossip produces. It produces untrustworthiness and division among one another.
Boasting
Psalm 94:4 says, “They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast.” Boasting about yourself reveals your heart. It shows lack of humility and an abundance of pride. Not only does it disrespect God (being the only One who should receive credit for any good thing), but it disrespects the people around you. Arrogance makes people feel insignificant, which bears the fruit of repelled relationships. Additionally, Proverbs 16:18 reminds us that haughtiness leads to downfall.
Anger and Hate
Proverbs 15:4 says, “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Countless people have endured verbal abuse and suffer from resulting brokenness. Spewing hateful speech in anger can be one of the most damaging ways to use our words. Even if it is just one careless comment, it can be carried inside of that person for the rest of their life. The fruit of angry speech is broken relationships, pain carried within the person, and untrustworthiness.
False Doctrine
In Matthew 7, Jesus explains that the way to know a wolf in sheep’s clothing is to recognize their fruits. Later on in chapter 12, He explains that the fruit is the words they speak: “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (12:33-34).
False doctrine results in misdirecting people from the truth. If a person’s heart is not transformed by the true gospel (that Jesus paid for our sins and rose from the grave so that we too can have everlasting life through Him), then the fruit of their lips will be teaching a false works-based gospel. If the root is bad, the fruit will be bad. Likewise, even as Christians, we ought to remain in (remember) God’s love for us because through that, our speech will be healing to others.
What is speech that bears good fruit?
Confession
Romans 10:9 tells us “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” The fruit of confession literally brings forth life! By confessing our belief in Jesus to others, we are “proclaiming good tidings to the poor; healing for the brokenhearted, and liberty for the captives” (Isaiah 61).
Confessing Christ and the gospel of salvation to the world requires us to speak up! It can’t be spread without words. While the following verse is talking specifically about Israel, the principle is applicable to all— Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”
James 5:16 also says to “confess your sins to one another and pray for one another so that you may be healed.” Another fruit of confession is healing. When we verbally admit the wrong we have done, we can start to move forward and be healed from the damage we have experienced and caused.
Restoration
When the nation of Israel will finally believe and confess that Jesus is their Messiah, that’s when He can return and establish His kingdom on earth; yet Scripture tells us it’s going to take the discipline of Jacob’s trouble— the Tribulation. In Matthew 23:37-39, Jesus laments over Israel’s rejection of Him: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; for I say to you, you shall see Me no more till you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’” The fruit of Israel’s confession of Jesus as Messiah at the end of the Tribulation will be restoration of this earth and implementation of Christ’s kingdom!
Honesty
Proverbs 24:26 says, “Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.” The kiss is a metaphor for something sweet and caring. Being honest is caring for the person you speak to. The fruit of truthfulness is a faithful friendship, trustworthiness, and gratitude. Click here to read a devotional about being honest.
Encouragement
Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
As opposed to slander and gossip, God’s choice for us is to encourage and build up one another. Instead of dividing, positive speech about others and to others produces the fruit of a stronger bond and deeper friendship. It shows the character of who you are — someone who is trustworthy and desires the best for others.
Just as much as hurtful words cause wounds, encouraging words can be medicine to someone’s spirit.
Calmness
The Lord’s remedy to the power of our words is said in James 1:19 — “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” In order to control our tongue, especially in moments of frustration, we need to slow down. We must listen first and take our time to answer, so that we are not responding in our anger.
Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” The fruit of being calm will de-escalate the situation and avoid much unnecessary pain and hurt.
Take a Moment.
Evaluate your speech:
1.Think about the list of ways that speech bears bad fruit.
Have you engaged in speaking in one of those ways lately? Maybe you let anger get the best of you when you started venting about how someone offended you. Maybe you lied to your co-workers in order to avoid a confrontation.
How can you fix that wrong and avoid doing it again?
For example, if you are tempted to gossip, speak kind words about that person instead. If you are tempted to yell in anger, pause to pray so you can be calm and return with an answer later.
2. Have you confessed the good news of salvation to anybody lately?
The most important message our lips can bring forth is the one of salvation. Jesus is returning soon and there are still people who need to hear the message of Christ’s love and sacrifice for them!
Don’t hesitate to pick up the phone and call a friend who needs to hear the news. Be prepared to talk to a stranger while going about your daily errands. Maybe plan a day to go evangelize in your city.
Recognizing that our words have power is what it means to live by faith!
-Alina