Do Words Matter?

Have you ever spoken out of turn, wishing you could take back your words? It may have been in the heat of an argument when you said something you know you ought not have said. It may  have been in that moment of pain or frustration when a string of words came out of your mouth that were not appropriate by any account. It may have been those words of gossip or criticism or that quick response after which you wish you had “bitten you tongue.” 

I think you would agree, we live in a culture in which most people are very loose with their words. From the gym locker room to the corporate office, into our city streets, churches, and even in the White House and political arenas, words are thrown around and things said that once would have been considered brash, foul, and just outright mean. Many people speak using their words as if their words do not really matter. 

As a child growing up in Sunday School, I remember singing a song with lyrics that stuck with me. Those lyrics included, “…be careful little mouth what you say…There’s a Father up above and he’s looking down in love. So be careful little mouth what you say.”  As children, we took those words to heart.  Thus, I grew up taking seriously the words of the Bible that caution us against obscene language, course joking, and any words that would tear down or hurt another person. Yet, too often I, like most others, have found myself in a struggle with my own words. 

Jesus, for one taught that our words matter. He said, for example, “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.” (Matthew 12:34-35 – NLT) And, “And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” (vs. 36-37) 

Jesus reveals two things about our words. (1) The words we speak are a reflection of what is in our hearts; (2) God will judge us for the words that come out of our mouths. Thus, it is imperative that we keep check first on our hearts and then on our tongues. For those of us who call ourselves followers of Jesus, there is little room for words that are foul, course, harmful, or hurtful. 

The Apostle James wrote, “…be quick to listen and slow to speak….” (James 1:19) And, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:9-10 – NIV, emphasis mine).

Do words matter? According to the Bible, they matter, and they matter a lot. Thus, the instructions we received in that little song as children is still good advice: “Be careful little mouth what you say….” After all, we still have a heavenly Father who is “looking down in love” and listening to every word that we say. 

Have a good day…and let’s watch what we say! 

- Pastor Tim Harris