"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it shall eat it's fruit"- Proverbs 18:21
I used to hear this particular proverb all the time as a kid but i never really took the time to understand it until now. We all have heard the popular saying usually used to encourage a young person when being verbally abused to remain strong. The old saying is " Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me" As a young person i would whisper this in my head when being bullied or verbally abused at school or in the neighborhood, i wanted to believe every word of it, but as time went on i learned the hard way that no matter how much of a poker face I attempted to have in the midst of being made fun of, hurtful and sometimes hateful words had the ability to penetrate deep into my heart and lodge themselves into my mind causing great harm. Insecurities were born because of words, tears were spilled because of words and fear and intimidation were experienced because of words, the popular cliche proved to be false.
The writer of Proverbs 18:21 says that Life and death themselves are in the power of the tongue but how you might ask? let's take a closer look
#1- Every word that comes from a person's mouth is a seed sown in the garden of opportunity!
When words come out of our mouths, they have to land somewhere! we release them from our mouth and they then travel to the ears of HEARERS as well as listeners, but they don't stop in the ears, they proceed to take root in the mind of a person. The mind of a newborn baby is fertile ground, the opportunities for abundant life are endless.
#2 Positive words are healthy seeds!
When a kid hears from the womb that they are loved, appreciated, and special, those seeds grow to become trees of dignity, self-worth and Honor! When you release life from your lips, life takes root in the hearers' ears, and it yields life in return. This isn't some mystical/mysterious law of attraction or manifesting type of thing either. God has set up a simple principle in this world called the laws of Sowing and reaping. Everyone who speaks can be considered farmers and when we decide to plant positive words, or words that God has spoken concerning our lives and the lives of others, we're setting the stage to reap a wonderful, desirable harvest.
#3 Negative words are unhealthy weeds
One definition of weeds is the " Unwanted plants that grow in the garden or fields of crops and prevent the growth of desirable plants"
having stated this, let's take the same example from my second point and say that a child from the womb continuously heard that they were undesired, worthless, hated and tolerated only. what would grow would then be weeds, these unwanted plants would spread in the garden of endless opportunities and literally prevent the growth of the desirable plants. A child who becomes the victim of these dreaded weeds would struggle with acceptance, esteem and value, and would live their lives searching tirelessly to fill these voids knowingly or unknowingly.
The bottom line...
no matter how you slice it, the words you say will either lead to life or death! People have killed themselves over a word that was said and in the same token people have refrained from taking their lives over a word that was said to them. To drive the importance of our words I'll leave you with the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:36-37 where he says
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words, you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
let's change the way we talk! but it's not going to be possible without changing what's in our heart, because our words flow from the heart. Ask God to transform you and renew you by his spirit, feeling you with all of his goodness and from that place only will your words be fruitful and lifegiving like they were intended to be........I love you all God bless!
Written by Jalen Perkins
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