Taken from The Dawning of Wisdom Part 1 "The Wise and the Foolish"
Day 18
Proverbs 18:
21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
We have seen in a previous proverb how important it is to set a guard over our lips, that our words take us in certain directions. Today’s proverb shows us that what we speak can minister to others, either life or death. Words that we speak not only make a difference in our own lives, but also in the lives of others.
When we bring our words under the control of the Holy Spirit, good things will happen and destructive things will stop. Gossip, lying, deceit, half-truths, condemning, judging others, being critical, all these will dissipate and fall away.
Once we are rid of such things, the Lord can use our mouths, our words, to minister life to others. Perhaps someone you come in contact with needs a word of encouragement or a word of comfort. Perhaps someone you meet needs a biblical truth or a prayer.
Sweet and bitter water does not come out of the same fountain. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? (James 3:9-11)
If we want to make ourselves available to the Lord so that He can use us to minister life to others and not death, a good place to start is to get rid of wrong speaking so that good things can flow out from us to others.
Wise: speaks words that minister life
Foolish: speaks words that minister death
Flossie Randels
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