Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me. These are the words used by children growing up as a defense mechanism to defend oneself against name-calling and verbal bullying. As children at some point we have used these words to rid ourselves of those who meant to do us harm by calling us names based on how we looked, or how we dressed, even down to how we talked.
Children don’t know what parents won’t teach them is that there is power in the words that come from the tongue. Yes, it’s true. Sticks and stones can break bones; but words are everlasting. Words penetrate deep into the fibers of our being and become singed in our feelings like a hot branding iron to stay with us throughout our lives.
The Bible teaches everyone of us in the book of James 3:7-10, For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It’s a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father. and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
When Jesus walked with His disciples, He met people who became transformed by Him through the words that He spoke to them. Jesus spoke the truth to people and He never used His words to hurt people. However the people that did become hurt by His words were the people who rejected Him. Simply saying, “The truth is something we all want, but nothing we want to hear.” The truth only comes from Jesus.
If mankind would somehow become more truthful and turn to Jesus with their problems, then there would no longer be a need for psychiatrist having to sit and listen to hours of other people’s problems. Unfortunately but truthfully no human can tame the tongue.
Nonetheless, we should be grateful that God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Jesus said in John 15:22, If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.
Lets learn to be open and honest with ourselves and each other which will lead to to building a lasting relationship with God through Christ who said, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes the Father except through Me. John14:6.
Now would be a great time to use your tongue to build up and not break down the people of God.