Words.

What is one of the most powerful forces in the whole world? Is it nuclear reactors, fusion bombs, the sheer force of a bustling crowd? I would propose that one of the most distinguished forms of influence in our world is words. It was a few words of inquiry by the serpent in the Garden of Eden which plunged all humanity into a culture of doubt towards God; we call this The Fall into Sin (Genesis 3). The sheer power of those words shaped this tumbled world into what it is now, replete with rampant crime, rumors of wars and actual wars, horrific earthquakes and one section of humanity sparring with another section of humanity.

Brian Gary (K99 in Northern Colorado) said this about words:

“Words are the most powerful weapon in the world. They are the weapons of mass destruction. You can destroy a person's confidence and sense of self worth with just a few horrible words that can never ever be taken back. Before you let unfiltered emotion come out of your face in the form of words, eat them for a minute and think about how they are going to effect the person you are about to say them to. Just give it a second before they come out. You may save someone's self esteem” (Gary, Brian. ”Words Are More Powerful Than Any Weapon You Can Buy.” Brian’s Blog. K99.com).

What kingdoms have been toppled by words of innuendo and intrigue? Words cause fear; words create the climate of hate or repulsion. Words can soothe; words can comfort and words can be used for the greatest good or the greatest evil. 

An NBC news clip relayed what a holocaust survivor said about the power of words: “The gas chambers of Auschwitz did not begin with bricks, it began with words: evil words, hateful words, words of prejudice, anti-Semitic words” (Foxman, Abe. “Holocaust survivors say “ItStartedWithWords” in new campaign against hate speech.” https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/holocaust-survivors-launch-new-campaign-show-how-it-started-words-n1263273).

As we continue in the Book of Proverbs, this ancient book of wisdom reveals to us the varied extent of the aftershocks which come from words. How are you using your words? How do you look into the words of others? It is vitally important that we assess the words which we release into the world; but it is equally consequential to examine the words we hear. If we accept them without question, are we understanding them? If we allow them into our mind and heart, do we know that they are holy and pure like the Truth that comes from the Bible? Or are these words tainted with intrigue and venom like the first words Satan spoke to Eve?

We don’t want to relive that ancient mistake of Adam and Eve (remember that her husband was right there with her). God gives us this gift of Wisdom in the book of proverbs. He is opening up for us a fortuitous occasion to grow in wisdom as we ingest and digest words, as we release our word for our family, and as we examine the power of human words and God’s truthful, holy Words.

Proverbs chapter eighteen states, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

Let’s learn from God’s Wisdom and enjoy the power of words.