Monday: Word Power
For we all stumble in many ways
(James 3:2, ESV). What a refreshing admission, especially considering James’s emphasis on behavior! Still, our acknowledgment of the real
need not dim our belief in God’s ideal for us as His representatives on earth.
Test explosion at the US Government Big Explosives Experimental Facility
from Wikimdeia Commons
If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body
(vs. 2, ESV). The form of the condition in Greek implies that not stumbling in word is a real possibility. The importance of words can scarcely be overestimated. Thoughts lead to words, which in turn lead to actions. Words also reinforce what we think. Thus, they influence not only what we do but also what others do. We are interconnected through language.
This week’s passage contains several illustrations of the power of the tongue. The first three emphasize how something small can have huge consequences: a bit and bridle can turn a horse, a rudder can steer a ship, and a spark can engulf a forest in flames.
What positive kinds of word power
do we find in Scripture? See Deut. 6:6-7; Deut. 23:23; Ps. 40:3; Prov. 10:20-21; Prov. 12:25; Mal. 2:6-7; Luke 4:22; Rom. 10:6-8.
Young children are impressionable, but, like trees that grow stiffer and more fixed, children resist change more as they age. In one sense we are all teachers, whether in the home or in the church. Because our words have so much power, it’s important to bathe our thoughts in God’s Word early in the day. After all, what feeds our thoughts and words: God’s Spirit or another source? We must not underestimate the enormous changes that are possible through God’s Word (Ps. 33:6, compare 2 Cor. 4:6), as opposed to other sources.
Words are so potentially powerful that, with just a few sentences, you can devastate a person, perhaps for the rest of his or her life. On the other hand, positive words can uplift someone, perhaps for just as long.
If you had dynamite in your hands, how careful would you be with it? What should your answer tell you about how you should deal with something even more powerful than dynamite?
(27)
words can kill.But words put into action are even worse. lets learn to use them wisely
Oh, Nuwamanya!
I recall growing up with children who would tell me, they preferred to be spanked than be told hurtful words. Wow! They were probably getting tired of caring around painful and shattered hearts.
Sometimes it is necessary to put a check on the influence of common culture on our conduct. If there is a cultural practice of insulting (‘dissing’) or embarrassing (‘putting down’) each other in jest this ought to be resisted like poison (Psalm 140:3). Patterning the behavior of others in a circle of fellowship one may be become accustomed to making a sport out of unkind remarks thinking it is all fun and no hurt is intended.
However such worldly habits are more injurious than appears on the surface. Even if others smile to conceal any immediate hurt they may be quietly offended by comments which cross the line, and this is only discovered later, if at all. We may be surprised at how thinned-skinned tough talking people can be (a function of self-consciousness).
A second issue is that disrespect breeds disrespect, even in apparent jest. One may try to outdo another in terms of unkind speech and gain a sense of satisfaction from having leveled the most stinging insult. This is probably not what we want to become known for – the ‘put down’ king or queen. The apostle Paul instead challenges us to outdo others in kindness (Romans 12:10).
That which we practice is that which we become. Every harsh tone or uncalled for expression of unkindness makes an impression on the mind of the speaker and has an effect on character development. Surprising aggressive behavior may often be traced to what is fed to the mind in casual fellowship.
If we would be like Jesus then we must spend more time imitating him, even if it seems out of place, or others think we are weird. We may even be labeled fanatics for believing what Jesus said, “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)
It becomes us to speak like citizens of the kingdom of Heaven (Philippians 3:20), and subscribe to a higher culture.
I couldn't agree more. Put downs can be so devastating and should not be a part of a Christian's conversation. As a former teacher I have seen many children smile and laugh when a cutting remark was made at their expense, but I knew they were hurting even though they were smiling.
Oh, Luana!
That really breaks my heart to hear! I can relate as to how those children feel, as I have been a victim of that too. My only consolation was, Jesus cares:-)
Thank you Hugh! Very well put! I think I better make (praying for my daily words) a morning routine.
Brother Hugh, this is timely, relevant and important. Thank you.
Wow! What a statement! James says if we don't offend by what we say then we are perfect/complete/mature. Which according to Jesus is what he wants us to be, He said be ye perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Surely that is a great motive to watch what we say. It also shows us how seriously the LORD takes what we say.
Why can't we control our tongues? It is such a small organ!
But of course it is not really the tongue or mouth that is the problem because what we say comes out of our hearts and is controlled by our minds.
If we have a strong will power we can stop ourselves saying what we think but it is also important to change what we think as Jesus showed us in the Sermon on the Mount.
How much do I need Jesus to change me so that I don't "offend" by what I say?
I will do an experiment today and think twice before I speak and see what a difference it makes. I will also take a survey and see how many hurtful and unkind or thoughtless words I hear others speak.
Amen Shirley! I like the idea of experimenting. Please let us know how that goes:-)
Right this is the result of the experiment.
First, issue - was a colleague pulling her weight at work, I really had to struggle to stop myself pointing it out, but because I was watching out the Lord gave me the strength not to bring it up in at the meeting.
Secondly, I live and work on a Big Five game farm and over the weekend a mother and baby rhino were killed for their horns. The worst thing was how these poachers tortured the baby, they broke its back by chopping it with pangas and they sawed off its tiny horn while it was still alive.
This was horrendous but what people said what was also horrendous. They described, in some detail, what should be done to these poachers including tying them down and cutting pieces off them bit by bit.
While obviously the poachers were cruel and what they were doing was illegal and they need to be caught and put in jail, but what the people were saying -if they did it - made them just as cruel and illegal. What was also horrific was that none of them thought they were doing anything wrong.
My next step in my experiment was to monitor what I thought. By nature I am an introvert so tend to passive aggressive rather that blurting out what I think.
So I was patting myself on the back a bit because I wasn't saying ugly things, but I realized that I was saying ugly things in my head and that that was also a bad thing and should be controlled by the power of God.
It is nice to be like a little girl in God`s arms every time I speak/burst out something, like a little girl I say "sorry, I didn`t mean it that way, I didn`t know, I wasn`t careful enough ... thoughtful enough, ...", with big eyes hoping for forgiveness ... Yes, there is a time for this in our lives, and then there is a time to grow up! God wants us to grow, to mature, and to die to self and put on/reflect His character! Wow! How much growing yet ahead of me/us! Oh, I praise God - He is not done with me yet! Things seemingly impossible are possible with God, all He needs from us is a willing heart!
Miriam, when you mentioned blurting something out without thinking it reminded me of a valid point a pastor pointed out to me. Sometimes people get upset when they hear a pastor say something that is not right, and they start rumors that he is preaching a false theology. the point the pastor pointed out to me is this. Don't judge a preacher's theology by what they say but instead by what they write, (books, articles, devotionals, etc.). Reason why is because in the course of speaking you can say something the wrong way, or not express it clearly or even not really think through what you just blurted out from behind the pulpit. But when a person writes, they have time to edit it and think about if that is really how they wanted to say it before it gets published. So what a person writes is more of a true reflection of the person than just what they say.
Good point, William - keeping in mind that a blog discussion is not like formal writing, but more like a conversation. We tend to make the same mistakes in an online conversation as we do in a face-to-face conversation. And misunderstandings are even more likely, because we cannot hear tone of voice or see body language ...
So true and so well put, Hugh Dalhouse! Amen
Each day, before we encounter the world, we should have an encounter with Jesus. At the foot of the cross, as we study the Word, we are to plead for the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts and minds with the truths of God's word; then ask for divine wisdom to speak a word in due season. That being said, every day we in a battle with self, this is why we need to depend upon Christ for strength.
Ellen White tells us that, "Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure." Steps to Christ p. 62.
Then the power to control the tongue will be given because then "It is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Matthew 10:20
Amen, we should ask for the Fruits of the Spirit - love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control.
If we think of each of these fruits in connection with what we say, we will understand and allow them to control what we say.
I am so glad for this lesson and the shares. I often fellowship with some dear people who use sarcasm frequently. They do not intend to hurt anyone's feelings--it is done in "a spirit of love." It is so easy to fall into this trap, especially when others are doing it and getting a lot of laughs. I needed this reminder that playing with words can be like playing with fire. We cannot always control the results.
“Because our words have so much power, it’s important to bathe our thoughts in God’s Word early in the day.” Profound!!! If I had a dynamite in my hands, I would do everything it takes to prevent it from exploding. And now with my tongue, I pray;
God help me speak the helping word,
And sweeten it with singing,
And drop it in some lonely vale,
To set the echoes ringing.
It all starts with the heart. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. When we have hearts full of love for each other and our Lord, controlling our speech will be authentic and sincere.As Christ transforms our minds and hearts we will reflect Him in ALL our ways.As I pray for a heart like His, I must also choose my environment and the influences I allow into my life. We have to strive not to be conformed to this world, but transformed by spending time in God's word and with Him in prayer and meditation. We are instructed to guard our heart with all diligence. The culture of put-downs, insults, laughing @ others' pain must not be condoned or indulged by Christ followers. Let's pray for each other as we submit to His Holy Spirit!
Very true Valerie!
And if we have the right contents in our hearts, we will not have to worry about whether we were going to be 'politically' right or wrong. All that flows from within us will be words seasoned with fragrance of Christ's goodness.
Words are indeed powerful, therefore we should ask God to help us that our speech be 'with grace and seasoned with salt.' Growing up I had high self-esteem because people told me how pretty I was. When I reached high school I started hearing that I was ugly. There went my self esteem.
It was when I read the word of God and realised how special I was to Him that people's words stopped mattering.We might not know someone's circumstance so we have to ask the Lord to help us to speak the right words for their season. Imagine telling someone contemplating suicide that you can't stand them.What would the result be?
We ought to spend more time with God's words so that His words become our words. We need to ask Him to create in us a clean heart because out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
There was a saying when I was a kid that. "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never harm me" that is not true. Jesus said "Love The Lord thy God with all your mind, heart, and soul. And love thy neighbor as thyself.
Words,once blurted out,take on a life of their own.We should carefully consider before we speak so that the life that the words take on is a life pleasing and glorifying to God
I thank you all for you input. Its so wonderful to see that God loves us so much that He finds ways to reveal our wrong habits that we may know we are not perfect and we need to rely on Him to change our characters. All these comments above reminded me of a fellow varsity student whom I went to church with, she once told me that making jokes is not really Christian-like. Obviously I thought she was just weird! But now I have realised just how true this is. Jokes are meant to cause amusement at the expense of another- Christ would certainly not do that. Now this got me thinking, what about the comedy movies we watch and the stand-up comendy shows which we so much love to attend(Shirley der Beer *wink wink: Trevor Noah)? These forms of entertainment fuel our putting-down culture. I do not think they are the kind of activities Christians should be part-taking of. I would have not come to this revelation without all your comments, thank you very much.
Nangamso, I very much agree with you as far as you go ..
However, there is also good humor that puts no one down. Very often it pokes fun at our ways of thinking or doing things, and it may be at the expense of the person telling the joke, rather than anyone else's expense.
I think you'll even find some professional comedians who do very little putting down of others ... but maybe I'm wrong. I haven't checked the comedian landscape for a very long time. (We don't have any TV other than satellite TV on which we watch Christian channels.)
I'm pretty sure that God gave us a sense of humor to help us over the rough places in life. I've been in situations where I could either laugh or cry, and laughing feels better. 🙂
And the Bible contains some humor. Just off the top of my head, I remember Elijah telling the priests of Baal to should louder because, perhaps their god has gone on a journey - knowing very well that their "god" was a fiction. 😉