listening and speaking: words matter

With all the talking I do, I'm bound to say something stupid. I've learned a lot about choosing my words wisely and editing, but I'm still human. When I'm uncomfortable, I talk. Word vomit. I just can't stop. There are times when I hear the voice in my head saying, "stop talking!" but I just keep going. Usually, all of this word vomit is harmless, but sometimes I say something that I shouldn't have. I've learned that the hard way. There are also times that I say things under the guise of joking. But we all know that there's usually a little bit of our true feeling there. Here's what the author of James had to say about the power of our words.

James 3:5-8 (NIV)

³If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. ⁴Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! ⁶And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members,staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. ⁷For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, ⁸but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison

Sheesh. That's intense. In short - words are powerful and they matter. I love the imagery of words as a small flame that can set a whole forest ablaze. It's so true! You may think you're saying something harmless, but how many times have your words started a fire. The worst part is that it's not just verbal anymore, we put it all out there on the internet. When we say something poisonous it can quickly be read by hundreds of people via twitter, facebook, blogs, etc. There's no context and no take-backs. Once it's out there and someone reads it, you can't strike it from the record (even if you do go back and delete it!) For this reason, we have to be even more diligent in bridling the tongue. We must choose wisely even if we think we're posting in jest. Scripture is clear on this. 

Ephesians 4:29 - 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 the hearer.

2 Timothy 2:16 - Avoid irreverent babble for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness and their talk will spread like gangrene.

Our words can bring life to people and they can bring death. They can bring the aroma of Christ or pierce with venom. I have to constantly remind myself that my words aren't empty. They carry weight and should point to Jesus. I may not have even meant to say something hurtful or that betrayed another's trust, but when I realize that I have I must be able to acknowledge my sin in it and repent to the person I was talking to and talking about. Now, those are words that really matter.