READ: James 3:2-12
Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. – Proverbs 18:21
Life and death are truly in the power of the tongue. The Bible says, “The tongue is a little member…” (James 3:5), but it is through the words we speak that life and death are released.
I remember a mother who angrily told her daughter, “You will sell beans.” Her daughter was on her way to university. This young girl felt she was a twentieth century modern high-flyer. She felt she was now superior to her mother and the entire family who had been selling beans in the market for years. Her mother declared over this university student; “You will sell beans”. It was amazing to see this young lady finish studying Information Technology at the university, and return to sell beans at the exact same spot where her mother had been selling beans for years. Watch out for an authority figure when they make declarations, because life and death is in the power of the tongue.
Even your jokes can turn against you. There are girls who have jokingly said, “I don’t want to marry.” Today, they are still unable to marry even though they are beautiful and now desire to be married. There are people who said, “I can’t pass this exam.” Today, they are tied down by their constant failures. Words are powerful! You must not joke about things you do not mean.
Indeed, you are snared by the words of your mouth! A word spoken creates snares and traps, preventing people from ever escaping. Life and death are released when words are spoken. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21