Proverbs 15:4. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 15 continues to look at the impact of our words upon others. The language used here is strong – tree of life, breaks the spirit. Have you ever had your spirit broken by someone else’s words? I’m sure you have. We all know the power of the words we use. A power that can be used for good or evil.
The word gentle here might also be translated as healing. It’s opposite is perverseness or twistedness.
Healing speech is honest. Perverse speech is twisted up in lies.
Healing, encouraging speech can literally bring health to the body. Perverse, discouraging speech can literally destroy a person’s well-being.
Healing speech makes glad. Perverse speech brings despair.
Healing speech helps. Perverse speech harms.
Healing speech gives life. Perverse speech brings death.
How would people classify your speech? Healing or twisted?
I wonder if Paul had today’s proverb in mind when he wrote these words to the church at Ephesus:
Ephesians 4:29-32. 29Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
In Christ we can speak the very words of Jesus to others. Words that build up. Gracious words. Kind words. Tenderhearted words. Gentle words. Healing words.
When you know that you are securely sealed for the day of redemption, that you are locked up in God’s love by your union with Christ, that you are forever forgiven, then you can live in a freedom of the Spirit that allows you to no longer need to self-promote through clamor, slander, and malicious, perverse talk. No longer is there a need to break the spirit of others with our twisted words. The more that we meditate on all that we have in Christ, the more and more our speech will conform to his own, for it is his own by the Spirit of Christ in us.
The question isn’t, what would Jesus say? The question is what do I want to say knowing that I am loved, forgiven, grace filled and free in Christ?
You: In general, are your words healing or twisted?
You in Christ: Do you desire to use words that sound like Christ? Words that bring life?If not, why not?
Christ in you: Where might you be tempted to use “corrupt talk” today? How might knowing the love of Christ in you allow you to choose words that build up instead?
Pray: Jesus, your words are always gentle to me. Help me to use gentle, life giving words with others too. Amen.
To Live is Christ 