#81 In God’s Image: The power of Speech
God spoke all of creation into existence. In the beginning “God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light” (Genesis 1:3). The phrase God said is repeated ten times in Genesis 1. All that now existed was spoken into being. As beings created in the image of God we speak life and death. The Bible provides guidance on what this means and how we ought to use this power.
The tongue has dual uses according to James. “With it (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9). This reality shows the error of human ways. When we curse men we make ourselves unclean which without God’s grace makes our speech dishonoring to God. The higher purpose here is to use our speech to honor God.
When we speak it is like a sword. In Proverbs it says “there is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue is only for a moment” (Proverbs 12:18-19). When we speak rashly it is like wildly swinging a sword which causes pain to all of those around us. This is in contrast to “truthful lips” which by speaking truth are associated with permanence. Lies on the other hand are found out and thus only temporary. It is not beyond reason to suppose that all people desire to have their words heeded and to be remembered; this is the natural result of speaking truth.
With the tongue we have the power of life and death. With words God created all things. With words a judge pronounces a defendant guilty or free, and with words the noose is tightened. Yet with words people are comforted. Consider “a soothing tongue is a tree of life, But perversion in it crushes the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4). This verse indicates we can provide comfort or pain with just words. And again in Proverbs it says “death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). If you love the words of praise that are spoken to you then you will also find pain from listening to the same voices. This is why we ought to orient ourselves towards God’s Word.
Finally we may consider the words of Matthew, “but I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37). Our words have power and God will hold us accountable for every word that we speak. Thus Matthew extorts us to be careful with our words and not careless. I extort you to the same.
