Proverbs 18:21 Your Life in Words

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Think of this verse as a manual for the most powerful tool you own: your voice.
In the book of Proverbs, which is part of the Wisdom Literature of the Bible, the authors often use "parallelism"—a way of balancing two ideas to show a deeper truth. When Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue," it is teaching us that our words are not just empty sounds that disappear into the air. Instead, they are like seeds. If you plant a seed of kindness, encouragement, or truth, you eventually "eat the fruit" of that harvest—meaning your life becomes filled with the results of what you spoke.
Imagine your tongue is like a steering wheel in a car. A car is a massive, heavy machine, but it is controlled by a small piece of metal. Your life is the car, and your words are the steering wheel. If you constantly speak negatively—saying "I’m a failure," "I can't do this," or tearing others down—you are steering your life toward "death," which in this context means broken relationships, low self-esteem, and missed opportunities. Conversely, if you speak life—using your words to build others up, tell the truth, and express gratitude—you are steering your life toward "life," which means growth, strong friendships, and peace.
The second part of the verse, "they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof," is a warning about responsibility. To "love it" means to value your words and understand their weight. If you treat your words as something precious, you will be careful with them. You will think before you speak, just as you would think before you planted a garden. If you plant weeds (gossip, lies, or insults), you will eventually have to live in that garden. If you plant flowers (words of wisdom, honesty, and love), you will enjoy the beauty of that environment.
For a young person, this is a game-changer. You have the power to change the "atmosphere" of your classroom, your home, or your group of friends simply by choosing your words wisely. When you see someone struggling, a word of encouragement can literally be a source of "life" to them. When you are tempted to join in on gossip, remember that you are holding the "power of death" in your mouth, and it is better to stay silent or change the subject. Your words define who you are, and they shape the world you live in every single day.
A plus is when you share a portion of God’s Word; the positive effects are even greater!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Abomination of Desolation and the Desolation of Jerusalem

  The Abomination of Desolation and the Desolation of Jerusalem I see this as an adventure in thought and Faith. Most of the time, I stay away from subjects like this, as people get quite upset if you do not agree with them on issues they cannot prove, rather than those they should be sharing, such as the virtues of Christ and Him crucified. Some will quickly say you are deceived and yet it is men and men alone teaching things without sharing that they have no fact or 'Thus Saith the Lord God.' Good Morning my friend, my question today needs your extreme detail for in these scriptures I am about to share I need to know what they mean, how they being different are connected in their details, and when did this take place, or has it; the scriptures to start; Mat_24:15 “When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)” Mar_13:14 “But when ye shall see the abomination of deso...
Read more
   The Status and Integration of Sojourners in Ancient Israel “Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:” KJV, Romans 9:6. There is so much debate worldwide over this one verse. The complex and the simple, and I expect a lot of back-lash. The biblical narrative, particularly within the Pentateuch, provides a nuanced view of the "sojourner" or ger (Hebrew: גֵּר ), who lived among the children of Israel. These individuals were not merely temporary visitors but often permanent residents who integrated into the social and religious fabric of the community. According to the foundational texts of the Hebrew Bible, the status of the sojourner was defined by a unique intersection of legal obligation and social protection. While they were distinct from the native-born Israelite, the Torah mandates that they be treated justly and, in many instances, requires them to adhere to the core tenets of the Mosai...
Read more

Freewill What is it?

  Freewill What is it I have a question for you. It may take more than one post, or perhaps I'll explore this deep topic in an article. Who knows where this will take us? OK Do you have a brain? Do others have brains? Does anyone with a brain think the same way, even though they may have grown up together? Next, imagine where all the things you know came from, and where you personally have access to this world of information? Is this really important? Well, yes, it is very important for you to be the very unique Individual that you are; you are a summation of the knowledge and wisdom of your life, actions, and thoughts. Your brain was made to absorb all the things in this universe and then use them. For various reasons, you also learn over time, as you have been in this world. So many these days like to think, and assume that they are more than they are when, in actuality, they are only a Memory Bank/ Brain of accumulated thoughts and emotions over the course of their life. Does t...
Read more