This past weekend, a group of pastors I work with held a free medical clinic for those in desperate need in their community. Not only were they able to provide free appointments with great doctors, but also almost all the medications those doctors prescribed. My role was to help fill orders at our make-shift pharmacy, and I must say it was one of the more enjoyable roles I’ve had. Our little pharmacy had the solution to so many peoples’ problems, and we were able to freely give it to them. I don’t know about you, but I often feel insuficiently prepared to help other people. I feel like I don’t have the medicine to give them. That, however, in many cases is not true. Each one of us has a medicine we can freely give to others: the medicine of words.
When we share words of love with others we provide a medicine for their hearts, souls, and minds. Our words have the ability to inspire, to comfort, to encourage, to point towards God, and more. The right words said in love can be more powerful than a perscription medicine. As we continue this series in Proverbs, soak in this wisdom about the usage of our words.
The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips. Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:23-24
Loving words can be just the right medicine a person needs in their lives. Its something inexpensive and freely available, yet has an amazing power. However, words can also be the most dangerous of poisions.
A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing. Proverbs 6:12-15
Notice in this scripture the absolute disaster words used in the wrong way can cause. Lets be honest: we misuse our words far too often. Instead of using our words as a healing medicine we use them out of anger, jealousy, frustration, pride, and other heated emotions. Instead of bringing about healing our words cause pain. Men, when God granted us the gift of language he gave us tremendous power: the power to heal and the power to hurt. Are you using words wisely? Do you realize your words have the power to truly transform lives, just like the right medicine does? I urge all of us to prayerfully consider our words. Let us use our words not to cause pain, but instead to spread the infectious love of Christ Jesus.
