Chaplain’s Corner

The Power of the Tongue

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21

Words are powerful beyond imagination. They are not simply sounds caused by our mouths shaping air, passing through our larynx. Think about it, when God created the world, He spoke. He spoke the world into being by the power of His words. In the very beginning of the Bible, in Genesis, God said, ‘let there be light, and there was light.’ We are created in the image of God; our words carry the same power. 

Human words do not have the power to manifest reality, but they do more than convey information, our words have an impact on people. Our words either empower people or bring them down, they can affect the well-being of those who receive them, both physically and emotionally. Praise and approval slip through our fingers like sand. Shaming and criticism on the other hand, stick to us like Velcro. It stains, it feels impossible to shake off, no matter how hard you try.

Proverbs 12:18 says,

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Reckless words are the words that you know you will regret as soon as they have left your tongue. They are bitter, painful, cancerous messages that leave people sick and hurting. They can burden one's spirit, even stir up hatred and violence, they can exacerbate wounds and inflict them directly. Alternately, words can build up and be life-giving. One word of encouragement can change a person’s mindset. Of all creatures on this planet, only humans have the ability to communicate through the spoken word, it is a unique gift from God, yet is often taken for granted. 

Here is a question for you. Are you using your words to encourage or destroy? Are your words filled with love or hate, blessing or bitterness, compliments or complaints? The apostle Paul wrote,

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

This is an admonition against the improper use of speech, the sins of the tongues. 

Paul is urging us to be a blessing to those with whom we have daily contact. Rather than lie, we are to speak truth; rather than corrupt with our speech, we are to build up. Jesus also reminds us that the words we speak are the overflow of our hearts.

Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:33-34

Ultimately, we will need to give an account of what we have said when we stand before the Lord on the day of judgement, when Jesus returns, 

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37

We obviously can’t control or predict how others would react to our words, but what we can do, is speak carefully and be intentional when we phrase our words or use a certain tone. And so right now may I challenge all of you, to put this into practice, to keep this in mind, to reflect God in our words and our actions, to glorify Him.

Tasman Fong

Year 11