Daughters of Promise November/December 2013 | Page 12

The words
we say are
never

meaningless
…they either
encourage life or
bring
death.

gossip, and evil speech against others are
bad, but they’re not deadly like poison,
are they? And just in case we missed it the
first time, James goes on to use even more
colorful descriptions: The tongue is a fire,
a world of unrighteousness, and it stains the
whole body. I think it’s time we admit that
the words we say are never meaningless.
They either encourage life or bring death.
Words of life speak encouragement,
caution,
gratitude,
compliments,
or
concern. They offer grace and apologies,
and cover a multitude of sin. Words of
death
label
people,
discuss
their
shortcomings, sensationalize sin, make