Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

Proverbs 18:21

“Death and Life”, it says, are in the power of the tongue.  Why not “life and death”?  Because the last thing on your tongue is death.  Is that what you want?

You might be tempted to say that “words don’t matter”, but, well, check the verse again.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and, if you love it, and accept it, you can choose to receive the rewards of your words.

A few more verses will suffice,

A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, and the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him.

Proverbs 12:14

And,

From the fruit of a man’s mouth he enjoys good, but the desire of the treacherous is violence.
The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

Proverbs 13:2-3

We truly have the decision within our own lips, as James writes,

If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature;

James 3:2b-6a

“…so is the tongue”, James wrote.  Just like a bit in a horse, or a rudder on a ship.

It is sometimes said of those who are negative that they are people who have a problem for every solution.  But, for the people of faith, as the late RW Shambach often said, You don’t have any problems, all you need is faith in God!

The choice is ours, to believe or not.  But, as the proverb above says, those who love it will eats its fruit.

Speak life.  Choose to speak life.  Always speak life, and you will eat the fruit.