Words matter deeply to God. He chose to speak creation into being. Thousands of times in the Bible, God spoke to his people. God’s Word is our guidepost through every season of life. Scripture reminds us of the power of our words to give life or destroy.

But we all struggle to navigate tricky conversations gracefully as we seek to share the truth with love.

James’ timeless insights on speech and wisdom give us a practical framework to reflect Jesus to a watching world.  

James gave lots of examples of the power of our words.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:3-8)

Here are six lessons we can learn  from James:

1. Understand the Divine Creation of Language

In the beginning, God spoke, and the universe came into being. As bearers of His image, our words possess a unique creative potency. James admonishes us to recognize the weightiness of this gift, urging us to wield it with wisdom and discernment.

2. Harness the Power of Words

James emphasizes the incredible power of our tongues, comparing them to a tiny spark that can ignite a great fire. Since our words can build up or tear down, we should be intentional in how we speak to those around us.

3. Practice Humility in Speech

James encourages us to be slow to speak and quick to listen. Let’s strive to pause and consider our words carefully, speaking with gentleness and grace, especially in moments of disagreement or conflict.

4. Grow in our Faith

Our words should be a reflection of our faith in action. James reminds us that true religion involves bridling our tongues and caring for the vulnerable. As we speak words of kindness, compassion, and truth, we demonstrate the transformative power of our faith in Christ.

5. Seek Wisdom

Ultimately, our ability to use our words wisely stems from the wisdom that comes from God. By seeking His guidance and allowing His Spirit to work in us, we can speak with clarity, wisdom, and love, impacting lives for His kingdom.

6. Embrace the Theology of Communication

Our communication is intricately woven into the fabric of our relationship with God and others. James exhorts us to align our speech with Christ’s redemptive narrative, allowing our words to echo the truths of His gospel. Remember that we are called to be a people of reconciliation.

Put it into Practice.

The average person speaks more than 7,000 words a day. As you seek to implement these lessons, use this Scripture as a starting point for praying for the Lord to help you in your journey.

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

Praying for you!