Proverbs 10:20. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
Notice the way the writer of this proverb parallels the tongue and the heart. Why do they do that? Better yet, how do they do that? Aren’t those two very different things?
No, not really. Jesus himself taught us that our words flow from the heart. The tongue is an expression of the heart, the innermost person.
Luke 6:45. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Notice too how our words show our worth – the tongue of the righteous is choice silver. Our words are worth what we are worth. Outside of Christ we are wicked and of little worth. Sure, the words of the unregenerate can be kind and caring, but they lack faith, they lack eternity, they lack ultimate truth. In a very real way, even their best of words fall short of the glory of God and his grace, making them of little lasting worth.
In Christ, however, we are righteous. Full of the imputed righteousness of Christ, and prepared to be instruments of his righteousness. Therefore, we can speak truth, love, grace, hope, eternity, and faith into the hearts of others.
James 3:18. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Now our words can be choice silver. Our words can bring a harvest of righteousness. Our words can literally change a person’s life for the better. Words of encouragement. Words of peace. Words of acceptance. Gentle words. Grace words. Gospel words.
When we know our worth in Christ, our words can conform to this identity. Rather than our words revealing our feeling of unworthiness, they can reveal our confidence in Jesus. A confidence that we can pass on to our brothers and sisters in the Lord, knowing that they too have great value in him.
You: Think about your typical daily words/language. Does it reveal your worth in Christ?
You in Christ: What is the connection between our words and our worth in Christ?
Christ in you: In what ways has Christ been nudging you to change how you talk to others?
Pray: Father, may my tongue be choice silver to those who hear me. May my words be the very words of Christ. Amen.
To Live is Christ 