Proverbs - There is LIFE in the Tongue

Proverbs 18:20-21

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

We have seen many proverbs on the tongue.  We have learned much from our Maker in this book about our words.  Here we learn a powerful truth.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue. 

Many times we focus on the fact that death is in the tongue.  If we tear someone down or put them down we can kill their spirits.  A verbally abused wife may get ulcers or high blood pressure from the constant barrage of insults and anger from the one who is to be her covering and protection.  A little child who is belittled and labeled may find their resolve languishing in the face of a parent whose words are filled with impatience and lack of understanding for a child’s age and development.

But there is also life in the tongue.  The words we speak can very well begin to help bring things to life in someone who, from previous spoken words, has something dead within them.  Jesus is the resurrection and the life.  Even if our words have brought some sort of death to our marriage, a relationship, a child, we have great hope in Jesus.  As we cry out to Him in the morning and ask that our tongues would be used by Him to bring life, we can see resurrection even in those relationships we may have sown death into.  We can be used to bring life to that neighbor, co-worker, grocery store worker etc., because we know the One who has the words of eternal life.  Open your mouth wide and let the Lord fill it.