The Soothing Tongue Is A Tree Of Life

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Proverbs 15:4

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 16:24

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

Well-chosen words can give us hope, even change the course of our lives. Most of us can share stories of a conversation that impacted our lives – words from a teacher that changed the way we looked at the world – words from an employer that helped us see the big picture. Words of encouragement can restore our confidence, and gentle words from a friend can carry us through a difficult time.

The book of Proverbs spends a lot of time emphasizing our responsibility to treasure words and use them wisely. Scripture never treats speech as if it’s “just talk.” Instead, we are taught that our words can have life-or-death consequences. In just a few words we could crush someone’s spirit, or through words of wisdom and hope, nourish and strengthen others.

Not all of us have the ability to create powerful music. But we can seek God’s wisdom to serve others through our speech. With just a few well-chosen words, God can use us to change a life.

God has given us the power to have an impact on lives through our words.

Our Daily Bread – February 3, 2018