Proverbs 18:20-21. 20From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is satisfied by the yield of his lips. 21Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Our words, our speech, the things we say, this is very much a recurring theme in the book of Proverbs. By now you might be thinking, OK I get it, my words matter. And yet we still struggle everyday with the things we say.
These two proverbs sit side by side to remind us that our words affect both the self and they affect others.
Verse 20 describes how our words affect ourselves with a strange sounding metaphor. We are satisfied not only by what goes into our lips (food), but also by what comes out of our lips (words). Here we are being shown the power of our speech on our own stomach, or emotional well-being. The words we say are sown seeds that yield fruit. The fruit of trust, of friendship, of kindness, or respect, of goodness and grace. Have you discovered this in your own life? The power of your words in bringing back to you a harvest of good?
Verse 21 goes on to describe how our words affect others, and the language is far more serious – life and death. The choice between life and death is as old as time. Adam and Eve were given this choice in the garden. They chose death. Moses set the choice between life and death before the Israelites.
Deuteronomy 30:15. See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil.
We are confronted with this same choice every time we open our mouths. Will we choose words of life or words of death? Will we build up or tear down. Will we give thanks or complain? Will we forgive or accuse? Will we speak grace or law? Think about some of the things you’ve said so far today (or yesterday). Have they brought life or death? We can all think of examples of words spoken to us that gave us life. Changed the direction of our lives. Got us through the worst seasons of life. This is the power of words.
Verse 21 ends with those who love it will eat its fruit. Those who have the gifts of speaking, especially those who are able to use words to bring about change in others, will also eat the fruit of their words and be satisfied. This is the same thought as in verse 20. Are you able to use words to convince people of things, or persuade people to do things? If so, that is a gift from God. It is a gift that you can use for his glory and others’ good, their growth in Christ to the glory of God.
1 Peter 4:10-11. 10As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
In Christ, we all have the supernatural gift of the words of Christ. Whenever we speak the gospel into the hearts of others we are speaking the wonderful words of life, Christ’s own life. And that doesn’t just grow them, the Spirit uses our words to grow us too. For it is not just us speaking, it is Jesus speaking through and to us, transforming us, satisfying us, nourishing us in our words which are his words of grace.
You: Do you love to talk? Has God given you the gift of persuasion?
You in Christ: In Christ your words are Christ’s words. How does this give you confidence to speak his words of life to others?
Christ in you: What words of life can you speak (or write) today that will satisfy the hearer and you, the speaker?
Pray: Jesus, your words to me are life. Help my words to always bring life as well. Amen.
To Live is Christ 