Read: Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
This will be the toughest assignment you will have today, but hands down, it’s the most important. It could be that relationships will be helped or hindered based on your success. It might be that witnessing opportunities will appear or disappear commensurate with your mastery of the mission. It’s likely that the door to greater opportunity will open or shut depending on how well you do. It might even be that your destiny will rise or fall relative to your ability to gain the upper hand in this task.
I am talking, of course, about the use or misuse of the words you speak today! Your tongue is, in reality, the rudder to the ship of your life, and the direction you take will be determined by how well you control it. Seriously, brother, tame your tongue or you are likely to shipwreck your life sooner or later! If you think I’m overstating the power of your words, take a moment to read James 3 and Matthew 12:33-37. If you doubt me now, you won’t then: mouth mastery is basic training for believers. Master it and you’ll move on to your Divine destiny. Flunk it and you’ll be held back from the life of impact God envisions you to have.
For sure, perfectly controlling your speech is tough work, but the payoff will be immense. Think about the personal power of the one whose tongue has been brought under control by the Spirit-formed heart:
Conflict is diffused! Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away anger while a harsh word fuels the fire.” Proverbs 15:18 tells us, “A hot-tempered man stirs up dissension, but a patient man calms a quarrel.”
Knowledge is distributed! Proverbs 15:2 says, “The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of a fool gushes folly.” Proverbs 15:7 reminds us, “The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools”, while Proverbs 15:14 follows with, “The discerning heart seeks knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.”
Life is dispensed! Proverbs 15:4 says, “The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverb 15:30 offers this reminder: “A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.”
Just think, if you can control your rudder today, and develop a track record of rudder control, then you can initiate peace, instill knowledge and instigate life! Now that kind of personal impact is worth the effort!
“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply–
and how good is a timely word!”
~Proverbs 15:23
Your Assignment, Should You Choose To Accept It:
If you work next to someone, give that person permission to remind you every time you utter a negative, harsh, coarse or foolish word. Agree to pay them $5.00 for every infraction. If you work alone, ask the Holy Spirit to be your accountability partner…and just pay me the $5.00 every time you blow it. And if you’re tempted to fudge the results, remember, the Spirit knows!
This is a dynamite message! I love messages about the words of our mouth – and how important they are. Sure, it puts the ball back in our court – we have to do the work and make a quality decision to speak words of life, health, joy, encouragement and power in the Holy Ghost – we can't just let our tongues speak in the same death-flow that this world operates in and expect different results. As Christian, we should let our words match up with what Jesus would say – and I've never read of Him saying "I may not make it, I'm sick, I'm broke, and I'm getting old fast…." Thank you for reminding us all to not only speak words of life to others – but over our own lives as well – so that we may live and work in the victorious life that Christ bought for us!