Sunday March 5, 2023
A War of Words
True faith is humble. Humility is the opposite of the proud selfishness and self-centered ambition that characterizes this present age. Most strife and arguments begin in a heart of envy and jealousy that is “self” motivated. And from that heart, harsh and hurtful words are spoken…and that’s a war of words.
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. (Matt.12:34-35 NKJV)
Jesus tells us that within our hearts there is abundance. I like that. It comforts me to know that my heart can be filled with His abundance and that out of that abundance, my mouth speaks forth good and beneficial things.
But it is also true that the abundance in a heart can be very destructive. What is in the heart of one who sows strife and contention with their tongue? Not what God desires at all. In fact, we are commanded time and time again in scripture to speak as He would give us utterance…not out of jealousy and envy. (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of jealousy)
We are told to put away all malice, anger, wrath, and abusive speech (Jas.4:11, 1 Pet.2:1). We are to keep our tongues from evil (Ps.34:13) and are not to become boastful, as if challenging one another with our speech.
These types of words not only destroy and hurt the hearer, but the one who speaks them as well. There are grave consequences when we use our tongues to cut down another person. We have to remember that we never talk to someone that God does not love. Grasp that! God loves that person you may be tearing down and He will not tolerate that for very long.
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies will not escape. (Pro.19:5 NKJV)
Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin. (Pro.13:3)
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land. (Ps.37:8-9)
Instead, we ought to speak words of life and encouragement. Paul gives us a beautiful picture of Godly conversation in the book of Ephesians:
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. (Eph.4:29-32 NKJV)
The word “corrupt” means, “worthless, useless.” On the opposite side of the spectrum, the word “edification” means, “to build up.” And the words “impart grace” mean, “to have divine influence upon the heart.” We are only to speak words that convey God’s heart. That’s not a war of words…it’s peace with words. Amen.
