“Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Did you have that saying in your childhood? Or one like it?
It was a response from our parents when we were verbally attacked, criticized, or otherwise made to feel bad by what someone said to us. It was probably helpful in nudging us off our hurt feelings. However, like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny, in my childhood, it was untrue!
The truth lies in the opposite direction. While words may not break our bones, they can have a huge impact on our lives. On one hand, they can build us up and give us confidence and dedication, and on the other, they can generate feelings of inferiority, a defeated self-image and lead to depression and passivity.
Words are one of our most powerful tools for living a life of fulfillment and purpose.
The Bible is full of passages that remind of this powerful truth and encourage us to choose our words wisely. For example, the Bible is God’s Word. Not Gods feelings, not God’s actions, not God’s intentions. It is God’s Word for a reason.
Words are one of our most powerful tools for living a life of fulfillment and purpose.
In addition, God spoke the world into existence. It was His words that formed creation. (Genesis 1, NIV)
And, Jesus is called the Word. ..
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. (John 1: 1, NIV)
In case there is any confusion, Jesus makes clear how important words are to God:
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (Matthew 12:36-37)
As with so many other passages, we often relegate the idea to the realm of “church” and give ourselves a pass when it comes to our behavior in the marketplace. But there is no exception here for people in the marketplace. No where does it say, “This applies to your life, except your business or career. You don’t have to obey this on the job.”
