The tongue has the power of life and death. Proverbs 18:21
It’s almost unheard of for institutions to admit guilt after a tragedy. But one year after a seventeen-year-old student’s death by suicide, a prestigious school admitted it “fell tragically short” in protecting him. The student had been relentlessly bullied, and school leaders, despite knowing about the mistreatment, did little to protect him. The school has now committed to taking significant steps to combat bullying and better care for students’ mental health.
The devastation caused by bullying is a stark example of the power of words. In the book of Proverbs, we’re taught to never take the impact of words lightly, for “the tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21). What we say can either lift up or crush another. At its worst, cruel words can be a factor contributing to literal death.
How do we bring life with what we say? Scripture teaches that our words flow from either wisdom or foolishness (15:2). We find wisdom by drawing close to God, the source of wisdom’s life-giving power (3:13, 17-19).
We all have a responsibility—in words and actions—to take seriously the impact of words, and to care for and protect those wounded by what others have said. Words can kill, but compassionate words can also heal, becoming a “tree of life” (15:4) to those around us.
Read: Proverbs 15:1-9
15 1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise adorns knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.
3 The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
5 A fool spurns a parent’s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence.
6 The house of the righteous contains great treasure, but the income of the wicked brings ruin.
7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but the hearts of fools are not upright.
8 The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him.
9 The Lord detests the way of the wicked, but he loves those who pursue righteousness.
INSIGHT
1. When have you seen careless words cause damage?
2. How can you show God’s compassion through what you say?
Proverbs 15:1-9 has a lot to say about the importance of our speech. It’s also a prominent theme in the New Testament book of James. Though broadly applicable, James warns “teachers”—those who influence others through their word—that they’ll be judged more strictly (3:1). We’re more susceptible to sin with our words than in any other way (v. 2). Compared with the other members of the body, the tongue is disproportionately powerful and more difficult to tame (vv. 3-8). We’re inconsistent in how we use our words. They can be used to treat those who are made in the very image of God as if they’re useless and at the same time we use our words to praise God who made them (vv. 9-12). As the psalmist says, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
PRAYER
Loving God, please help me never take the impact of words lightly but rely on You to speak what brings life. In Jesus name I pray and believe. Amen.
Read: Proverbs 15:1-9 | Bible in a Year: Psalms 26-28; Acts 22
