The Power of Words
Prayer for Illumination:
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock, and my Redeemer. Amen.
In my early teens, I was quite chubby—at least I thought I was because my sisters were so skinny, like toothpicks. Growing up in Korea, about 40 years ago, we had these annual health examination days at school. It wasn’t like today, where privacy is important.
The teachers and healthcare staff would check your height, weight, waist size — everything — in front of everyone.
I’ll never forget the day I had to get weighed when I was in Grade 6. We were all lined up—boys and girls—waiting to step on the scale, one by one. If a heavier child got on, the other children would burst out laughing.
As a young girl who felt insecure, the thought of being weighed in front of everyone filled me with dread.
But then it was my turn. I stepped onto the scale, and the male teacher who was checking the weights took one look at me and said, loud enough for everyone to hear, “Wow, what elephant thighs you have.”
The laughter that followed from my classmates made me want to crawl into a hole and hide. My face was burning, probably as red as a tomato.
Those words stayed with me for years. The teacher may not have intended to hurt me, perhaps he was trying to be humorous, but it had the power to shape how I saw myself for years. Just like James says, "the tongue is a fire" - it can set entire lives on fire. His careless comment was like deadly poison to a sensitive, pre-teen girl.
This month, we’ve been exploring the book of James, and today we’ve arrived at Chapter 3. In Chapter 1, James—one of the pillars of the early church and the half-brother of Jesus—encourages believers to be not just hearers of the Word, but doers.
Then, in Chapter 2, he urges us not to show favoritism based on outward appearance, status, or wealth. We’re called to treat everyone equally because we are all made in God's image and are brothers and sisters in Christ.
Today, in Chapter 3, James addresses something we all struggle with—our tongues. The tongue may be a small part of the body, weighing just about 60 to 70 grams, but it holds immense power - the power to give life or destroy.
James starts this chapter with a warning: "Not many of you should become teachers." Why? Because teachers are judged more strictly. As teachers, we use words; and words can shape lives either good or bad.
James might have been responding to a situation in the early church where too many people claimed to be teachers without the maturity or wisdom to back it up.
Some may have wanted the respect that came with the title but didn’t have the spiritual gift or the lifestyle to match.
As a pastor, this verse speaks to me louder. I constantly pray for the Holy Spirit to guide me as I teach so that what I say is aligned with God’s Word and His will. But, like anyone, I’m human, and I can make mistakes or misinterpret Scripture.
That’s why I encourage you to always ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and discernment when you listen to sermons, mine included, to ensure what you hear is truly rooted in the Bible.
But James’ warning isn’t just for pastors or church leaders. In a way, we are all teachers. Whether you’re teaching your children, mentoring a friend, or offering advice to a neighbor, we all love to share what we know.
But James reminds us of the great responsibility that comes with teaching. Our words have power, and they have an impact. So, let’s be mindful of what we teach and how we speak.
James uses three vivid analogies to show how powerful the tongue can be.
First, he compares it to a bit in a horse’s mouth. Imagine a wild horse, full of strength and energy—yet with just a small bit in its mouth, that power can be controlled. (Bev can explain a little more about how to control a horse with a bit.)
Next, he likens the tongue to a rudder on a ship. The rudder is tiny compared to the massive ship, and often hidden from view, but it steers the entire vessel wherever the captain wants it to go.
Then, James brings up the spark of a fire. Living here in BC, we don’t need much imagination to understand this. The devastation of wildfires in recent years, whether in the BC Interior, northern BC, or Jasper National Park, has been heartbreaking.
While some fires were caused by natural forces, many started from human negligence - like a campfire not properly extinguished or a discarded cigarette. Something so small can set entire forests ablaze, destroying everything in its path.
In the same way, the tongue may be small, but it holds incredible power—for good or for destruction. And the problem is, controlling it can be incredibly difficult.
We can tame wild animals—everything from eagles and cobras to elephants and lions. We can even train dolphins or, believe it or not, cockroaches. Yet, taming our tongues often seems impossible.
Our tongue has the power to produce both blessing and cursing. It can lift people up, encourage, heal, comfort, and build others. It can speak life, create unity, express thanksgiving, and praise God.
But it can also tear people down, harm, humiliate, discourage, and destroy. It can criticize, lie, and even kill with its words.
Think about it—one moment, you’re praising God, offering up thanksgiving with sincerity. And then, just moments later, you might find yourself speaking words that hurt or insult someone made in the image of God. Therefore, we must continually guard against it.
Let us look at some other Bible passages about the power of the words we speak.
Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Proverbs 10:11, “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.”
Proverbs 12:18, “Thoughtless words can wound as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.”
Proverbs 18:21, “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Have you ever been hurt by gossip or false rumors? If you have, you know how deeply it can wound. Having your reputation damaged by something untrue can be devastating.
On the flip side, if you've ever been the one spreading gossip, you've probably seen how just a few careless words can turn someone’s life upside down.
Gossip has real consequences—and tragically, it can even lead to lives being lost. Many young people have taken their own lives because of the relentless cruelty of rumors.
It's not just the words we say face-to-face that matter.
What we post or share on Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, or through emails also reveals a lot about who we are.
Every comment, post, or even 'like' says something about the state of our hearts. That’s why we need to be careful, not just about what we say, but also what we share online.
Our words are a reflection of who we are. As children of God, renewed in Christ, blessing and cursing should never flow from the same mouth.
Jesus put it plainly: “Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. A good person brings good things out of a treasure of good things; a bad person brings bad things out of a treasure of bad things.” (Matthew 12:34)
The key to controlling our tongues lies in the condition of our hearts. If our hearts are filled with anger, envy, pride, hurt, or bitterness, those emotions will inevitably spill out in what we say and do.
Then, how can we tame our tongues? The first step is to ask God to reveal the condition of our hearts. Pray for the Holy Spirit to show you what’s behind your negative or critical words.
It could be unresolved hurt, anger, or frustration. God is ready to help us change, giving us both the desire and strength to speak words that build up, not tear down.
It’s not just about being careful with our words; it’s about being transformed through God’s grace. When complaints or criticism surface - pause, bite your tongue and ask for God’s help.
David prayed, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). Sometimes, the wisest thing we can do is say nothing. After all, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.”
Let us take a moment before the Lord to reflect.
Ask Him to reveal any unwholesome talk, or critical or negative words you’ve spoken recently.
Invite the Holy Spirit to bring to mind any thoughtless, unkind, or judgmental remarks you made to your loved ones, any sarcastic jokes or false rumors you shared with friends.
Ask God for forgiveness for those careless words. If you feel led by the Holy Spirit, and if you have the courage, reach out to those you’ve hurt and seek their forgiveness.
If you’ve been hurt by words—whether it was years ago or just recently—know that God sees your pain and understands it.
Perhaps it was a harsh comment from a parent, a hurtful remark from a friend, or something said by a teacher, boss, or even a stranger.
God doesn’t want you to remain trapped by the lies those words have instilled in you. He desires to free you from that pain and restore your sense of worth and dignity.
Let Him speak His healing truth into your life and allow His words to reshape your identity. May the Lord heal your wounds and renew your spirit.
Friends, God gave us our tongues, and when used wisely, they can be a powerful force for good. Words can bring life or death—so what will you choose to give to the people around you?
Speak words of HOPE: "With God, all things are possible." "Your story is not over yet; God is still writing it."
Offer words of COMFORT: "God will never leave you nor forsake you. You are in my prayers." "It’s okay to grieve. God understands your pain."
Share words of GRATITUDE: "I’m grateful for how God is using you to bless others." "Thank you for being who you are. Your presence is a blessing."
Give words of ENCOURAGEMENT: "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you." "Your faith is making a difference; don’t give up."
Remember, words are incredibly powerful. Let your mouth be a fountain of life.
Let us pray.
Heavenly Father, may our words be a reflection of Your love and truth, bringing life and light to those around us. Transform our hearts so that the words we speak are rooted in Your grace and compassion.
We thank You for the gift of speech and for the opportunity to use it to glorify You.
May we honor You with every word we utter and be instruments of Your peace and healing. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.