Words Matter

Good morning and welcome to Our Daily Walk.

Audio version at http://tinyurl.com/ynprbf

I think you can tell just by watching which kids are going to be more successful in life. They are the ones who exhibit confidence and this confidence comes not only from their talents and vision, but also from those who believe in them. In short, when their parents and others encourage them, these young people will mature into successful adults.

What difference do words make in the life of a person? Consider the impact on two boys who lived with very different circumstances.

One boy lived with encouraging parents who were constantly providing positive feedback to their son. Sure, they had to correct him from time to time. But they did so in love and always with the goal in mind of making him better. They said things like, “good job,” “we believe in you,” “you can accomplish whatever you put your mind to do,” and “we are proud of you.”

This boy grew up knowing that his parents were his supporters. Not only did he know that they were pulling for him, but he also knew that to fall short of what he was capable of doing would be a disappointment to them. He approached life with great confidence and accomplished many things.

On the other hand, the other boy grew up in a family where positive communication and praise were in short supply. In fact, this boy heard mostly the negative things from his parents. “You will never amount to anything.” “Why can’t you be more like your brother?” “How could you be so stupid?”

Not surprisingly, this boy grew up in an environment of doubt and fear. Any dream that he dared to dream was quickly dashed by the inevitable doom from his parents. Even when he did well in a course or achieved a goal in life the words of encouragement still eluded him.

Our words make a difference on the world around us. Words can help make us or break us.

Choosing the right words can make all the difference. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 25:11, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.” There is great value in the words we choose.

James discusses the importance of controlling our tongue and speech in James 3:1-12. Notice the impact that our words can have on others.

My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

In our example earlier two families had two different approaches to their sons. One chose to be positive and the other chose to be negative. The effects on their sons were predictable and given the choice today, most everyone we know would want to choose to be positive.

But some people really have difficulty in knowing how to communicate in a positive manner and to do so consistently. Hypocrisy occurs when we begin to mix the good words with the bad words. Like James said, when we bless God and curse men all with the same mouth something is out of line. These things should not happen.

On Our Daily Walk today, may we realize that our choice of words makes an impact on everyone around us. May we take the time to choose our words wisely and always make sure that what we say is for the purpose of making things better.

Our thought for the day: “Wisdom is knowing when to speak your mind and when to mind your speech.”

May God bless you on your daily walk.

© Our Daily Walk, Mike Baker, 2007. Permission is granted to copy these articles provided they are not sold and the author's name and copyright are included.