Sticks and Stones (#63)

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Baloney.

Thick armor and quick ducking deflect limb and rock. But words quickly pierce. Even ensconced hearts remain defenseless. Harsh words stir up anger. Many words invite sin. Smooth words seduce. Fool’s talk brings a rod. Talk supplanting action leads to poverty. Gossip betrays a confidence then divides brothers. On the other hand, the wise know to hold their tongues until the joy of aptly spoken words shines like golden apples set in silver. A kind word cheers, while a timely word brings good. And, of course, a gentle answer turns away wrath.

What makes sound waves so potent? Force of personality? Magic? Hardly. The Word created the beginning and made us in His image. He entrusts each of us with a bit of His creative power. “Speak my word,” He commands. “Administer my grace,” He directs. “Whatever you bind and loose on earth will be touched in heaven,” He promises. “Go ahead, tell the mountain to move,” He counsels. He makes the point clear. Words contain His power, distinguishing bone from marrow, always accomplishing His purpose. Misused words hurt, divide, and destroy, but His words give life. Wrong speaking traps us in sin, but we escape by confessing that sin.

What’s the trick to speaking the truth in love? The gift of free will dictates that the privilege of power also requires the exercise of choice. Turns out, He offers two options. First, in the heat of daily battle, ask Him to set a guard over our mouth. Then, for life’s long haul, He reveals that “out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.”