–By Caleb Deininger
“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11
Seldom do we say exactly the right thing at exactly the right time. In fact, we usually take about ten steps away from a conversation before kicking ourselves over what we should have said. But there are few things sweeter than when a downtrodden soul hears the words they need to press on, or when a sinning brother or sister gets a much needed and unwavering reproof.
“A word fitly spoke” can be a word of encouragement: few words uttered by man have held the weight of Christ’s timely comfort in Matthew 11:28-30, for “heavy laden” Christians everywhere. It can also be a firm rebuke: in 2 Samuel 12, Nathan’s four words to David, “Thou art the man,” were probably the most powerful, most affecting, and most beneficial words David could have heard.
On the other hand, the tongue can be a tool of destruction: Absalom’s deceitful tongue “stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:6) and inspired mutiny against King David. And, of course, Satan’s simple and “sensible” persuasion in the Garden of Eden cast the curse of sin upon all mankind
All too often, God’s children fall prey to the temptations of evil speaking, backbiting, talebearing, etc., while failing to be mindful of the power of our words. James 3 offers a profound insight into the duality our speech can yield. How can the mouth that curses man be fit to praise the God who created him? And the line between playful jesting and cruelty isn’t a line at all–it is a slippery slope. These things can introduce elements of bitterness and insecurity into the fellowship that would otherwise be foreign. When we use our speech in such harmful manners–even if it is unwittingly–we can chip away at the very bonds that hold the church together and sow the seeds of discord and strife.
We must never underestimate the effect our words have upon others. They can either lift up a weary soul, or further dishearten him. They can either set God’s erring child right, or sheepishly consent to his transgressions. And they can either strengthen our congregation, or tear it apart. May our words contribute to the church’s spiritual well-being, and be those “apples of gold in pictures of silver” that someone may need to hear.
SHARING
