How’s Your ‘Mouth’? Corrupt? So-So? Godly? You Decide
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by Pastor Jim Feeney, Ph.D.
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Introduction to the Massive Importance and Impact of Our Words
A friend of mine was once at a company picnic. He heard a coworker loudly using disgusting profanity in the audible presence of others. My friend said to him, “Do you eat out of that same mouth?” Was there lack of grace and respect in that comment? Perhaps. But in asking it, he was touching on a profound biblical topic, which is beautifully summed up in this Scripture: “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21).
Godly Talk Has a Favorable Influence on Others
The symbolism here is clear. Salt has both a preserving and a flavoring influence on whatever it is applied to. And that is what the Scripture is telling us. Our words should be full of grace and have a positive impact on our hearers. And how much should this Bible truth dominate our talk? — “Let your speech always be gracious.”
The Bible has a multitude of accounts of the words Jesus Himself used during His time on earth. Check it out in Scripture, and you will not find even one instance of “foul, profane, worthless, vulgar” talk by Jesus. He is the perfect role model for living a life that is pleasing to God. We should follow his stellar example.
A few thoughts on this Bible verse. First, “do not let unwholesome…words ever come out of your mouth.” Ever! To believers reading this: that’s what God’s Word (which we value highly) says. We are charged to speak words that “build others up” and that are a “blessing to those who hear you speak.” Are your words consistently uplifting and a blessing to others? Excellent! That’s what Jesus modeled and what His Word demands of His followers — to strive to be like Him.
Our Words Have the Power and Force of Life and Death
Your words can inflict horrible damage on others in many ways — by belittling them … speaking in unrestrained anger … deliberately choosing hurtful words … suggesting to them by your words that profanity is just fine … and in many other ways. “Death…is in the power of the tongue.
But life also is in the power of our words. As noted above, “be a blessing to those who hear you.” Build others up, not down, with your words. Again, let’s hear Jesus’ heart: “The words I have spoken to you — they are full of the Spirit and life” (John 6:63). The Savior’s word were life-giving. So should ours be.
Our Words Reveal What’s Really Inside Our Hearts
How do you truly know a person? Jesus gave us the fruit test — “So then, you will know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:20). The observable fruit of our lips, our words, helps others to know the real you. And that’s because, as the Lord said, “The mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Be around a person for more than just a few brief conversations, and after a while you’ll discern from their words their actual inner character. Jesus Himself told us that.
I encourage each of you readers today — perhaps even now — to stop and take some time to reflect on this: “What comes out of my mouth? Does it bless others and build them up consistently? Or does it reflect corruption in my heart that comes out of my mouth in ungodly ways?” Jesus assures you that the ongoing fruit of your lips, wholesome or crude and corrupt, will tell others exactly who you are.
Your Speech Can Change from Ungodly to Godly, with the Lord’s Help
Maybe before you came to Jesus for salvation your mouth was foul, full of cussing and profanity. Before I received Jesus as Lord and Savior, in my young adult years I was a cusser (although, thankfully, it seems that He preserved me from cussing using His name). When I received Jesus and was born again, I noticed an immediate change. Even without any effort on my part, the cussing stopped. And that’s all credit and glory to the Lord, because He promised in His Word: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NKJV).
If the Scriptures we’ve looked at have touched your heart, and you realize that your words are not consistently wholesome and uplifting, reach out to the Lord in prayer and repentance. He will forgive you and bring about the changes that both you and He desire — to be consistently a blessing with your words, not a curse.
The Lord will help you to cultivate a new, life-changing attitude in your heart, as is beautifully captured in this wonderful Bible verse: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O Lord” (Psalm 19:14, Amplified Bible).
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Check out our related sermon: Control Your Tongue! Tame the Tongue or It Will Ruin You
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