Your Words Matter

For the last few months, I’ve tried to consistently and emphatically teach this truth to Samuel. When we are at home, Samuel chatters almost non-stop. He likes noise and noises, especially bodily-function-related noises (and words). He is a five-year-old boy who makes his presence known at all costs and at all times. I frequently wrap him in my arms and remind him that his words matter.

When I think about the importance of the words we say, a couple prominent Bible passages come to mind. James 3 reminds us that we can both bless and curse with our tongues, and many times we do both in the same conversation, maybe even the same sentence. The tongue is a small part of our bodies, but can be used in mighty ways. Rumors start with simple false or partially false words. A person rises to power through the praise of those who speak the loudest. Our tongues cannot be tamed, unlike the wild beasts of the fields. James 3 ends by exhorting us to seek after wisdom from above.

The second Bible passage that comes to mind is Colossians 4:6,

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

I also think of Matthew 5:13,

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet.”

We recently discussed Matthew 5:13 in my Sunday School class, and I enjoyed hearing the students’ thoughts about how Christians are the salt of the earth. After discussing this idea for a few minutes, one student finally made the connection between Christians and salt. He remembered reading in a book that in ancient times people used salt to preserve food. He explained to the class that as Christians, we preserve the earth. What a wonderful truth for a young person to understand!

Colossians 4:6 calls us to speak graciously and with wisdom. We “ought to know how to answer each person.” I believe you can apply this verse in quite a few ways, but especially to sharing the gospel with those who are lost and hurting. We don’t necessarily have to speak perfectly and eloquently, but we must be able to explain our faith and why we believe in the free grace of Jesus Christ. We also must be able to apply the gospel to everyday life for ourselves and as we assist those who are hurting.

This truth is especially important to grasp because of the time in which we live. Idle words written online can cause mass outrage and ruin lives. We could lose our jobs because we use a word that was acceptable in the past, but now offends a certain group of people. One misstep can create a funneling web of angry comments and demands. I certainly don’t believe we need to take each and every case of offense seriously, but we do need to consider how we can speak with love and grace for God’s glory. The people who require accountability for any offense taken can be just as lost as the people who applaud themselves for their own ability to withstand criticism and think logically. We can easily become like whitewashed tombs: judgmental of the easily-offended on the inside, but claiming the love of Jesus on the outside. Wisdom takes the time to consider every angle and listen to every viewpoint. Pride automatically assumes the worst in others, but the best in itself. God calls us to be wise. I remind Samuel that his words matter because others will hear him speak and he will be held accountable for what he says.

Thinking all this through makes me so thankful that we have a loving Savior in Jesus Christ. He powerfully and humbly teaches us how to live our lives to please God and love others. He forgives the sins of those who seek after Him. We are covered in His righteousness, and all God sees is perfect beauty.

Your words matter. Let’s be wise in our speech and loving in our actions, and let’s teach our little ones to be the same!