Words

Do you talk too much? I generally do. I think I’m a good listener too, but I enjoy talking. The Bible has a lot to say on the subject with many proverbs focused on the foolishness of babbling on and on! Talking isn’t wrong, but often the choice or words or the tone of voice can be. There must also be a balance between speech and silence.

Speech is silver, but silence is gold. Words are of such value that they should never be wasted.

Mozart once said that “to talk well and eloquently is a very great art, but that an equally great one is to know the right moment to stop”.

Churchill similar … “courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen”.

The apostle Paul instructs that no corrupting talk come out of our mouths (Eph 4v29) and that our speech should always be gracious, seasoned with salt (Col 4v6).

I love this … “A gentle tongue is a tree of life” (Prov 15v4) and this … “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body” (Prov 16v24).

James advises us to be “quick to hear, slow to speak” and “from the same mouth come blessing and cursing”. He describes the tongue as being untamable, a restless evil and full of deadly poison, like a fire which can corrupt the whole body. A similar sentiment is expressed in proverbs 18 “death and life are in the power of the tongue”. But also in proverbs we’re told that those who restrain words have knowledge and are prudent; not to be rash with words but that the tongue of the wise brings healing.

You can always add more words if needed, but it’s jolly hard to take them back or to try and get someone to forget what you may have just said. Learning to become more considered and kind with our speech in general is no bad thing. To listen more and to care about the effect our words can have, is vital for the promotion of all well-being … I find it interesting that words are indeed associated with physical health and healing, so it’s not just emotional, psychological and spiritual. 

Words can enrage and cause great physical harm; they can belittle and control; they can erode personalities and strip someone’s confidence; they can lead to war and terror; they can bring great suffering and sadness; they can lie and falsely accuse … but they can also bring joy and healing; they can build up and support; they can give hope and liberty, courage and victory; they can provide justice and reconciliation; they can soothe and be like a warm blanket to a cold and confused heart. Let us choose wisely how we use our speech and let us with the psalmist say:

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer” (19v14).

Ingrid x