I think we forget the power of words. When I was a boy and someone said something hurtful to me, I was taught to say, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” That sounds good, but it is not true. As I’ve grown older, I have learned that words can hurt very deeply, and many times far more than physical wounds. Proverbs 18:8 verifies this truth; “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.” Then, verse 14 of the same proverb gives the result: “The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?” Many divorces and broken relationships started with grievous words that were as weapons of war. Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger.” It sure is hard to argue with someone who won’t argue back.
Words can hurt deeply, but words can also build up and encourage. In Proverbs 25:11, we are told that “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold and pictures of silver.” Oh, how helpful it is when someone says the right thing at the right time. We also find in Proverbs 16:24 that “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.” I am amazed at how much the Bible speaks of our words, our mouths, and our tongues. The tongue is a different subject altogether.
I will end this article with a verse of one of David’s prayer Psalms concerning thoughts and words. May it be our prayer as well. Psalm 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” The following poem has been a help to me through the years.
Be careful of the words you say, Keep them soft and sweet, You never know from day to day, Which ones you’ll have to eat.