The Dual Power of the Tongue

I heard someone once say, “life and death are often only a word apart.”

Scripture does not treat our speech as neutral. The Bible presents the tongue as a small instrument with enormous influence and capable of healing hearts or wounding souls, of proclaiming truth or spreading destruction. In a world full of words, God calls His people to speak with reverence, restraint, wisdom, and love.

Scripture speaks of two great powers of the tongue:

1: The first power of the tongue is its ability to HELP. This is when our words build up. The tongue can become a channel of grace when it is shaped by God’s truth.

Solomon writes, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21).

God designed words not merely to communicate, but to build, comfort, and guide. Encouraging words can strengthen the weary, restore the broken, and point sinners to salvation. God says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad” (Proverbs 12:25).

The Apostle Paul ties godly speech directly to spiritual growth in the church: “Let no unwholesome word  proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29).

When our words are shaped by Scripture and love, they become instruments of God’s truth and mercy, lifting others toward Christ and reflecting His character to the world.

2: The second power of the tongue is it ability to HARM. This is when words destroy. The same tongue that can bless can also burn.

James offers one of the most sobering warnings in all of Scripture: “And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity… and sets on fire the course of our life and is set on fire by hell” (James 3:6).

Careless, angry, or deceitful speech can tear down relationships, spread division in the church, and dishonor the name of Christ. “There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword” (Proverbs 12:18a).

Jesus Himself reveals that sinful speech is not merely a relational problem, it is a heart problem: “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34b).

Gossip, slander, and harsh words do not simply harm others; they expose a sinful heart in need of God’s transforming grace.

The gospel life does not merely forgive sinful words, it reshapes our speech. As Christ reigns in your heart, He also empowers you to reign over your tongue.

David’s prayer becomes the cry of every believer: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

In a culture quick to speak and slow to listen, we as the Lord’s disciples are called to be different; to speak truth with humility, correction with compassion, and encouragement with sincerity.

We cannot afford to forget this: the tongue is never neutral. It either reflects the grace of Christ or the corruption of a sinful heart. By God’s Spirit and Word, we must use this powerful gift not to wound, but to heal; not to divide, but to build up; and not to glorify self, but to magnify our great Savior.

In the end, our words tell a story not only about what we believe, but about whom we belong to.

Pastor Jeff