The Power of the Tongue

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Proverbs 18:21



We've all heard at least a dozen sermons on the damage that the tongue can do. Sometimes it's easy to forget that the tongue can also bring life. We can curse or we can bless with our tongues. We can bring grief or we can bring joy with what we say.

Even language itself can bring joy.  Though Satan may do all he can to pervert language, there can also be great beauty in it- though we seem to have forgotten that in this nation.  If you need reminding, just read the poems of Emily Dickinson or Ralph Waldo Emerson. Or, if you are really daring, read something from William Shakespeare.

Unfortunately, in this time of texts and tweets, our emphasis is on brevity rather than quality of writing. It is easy for us to forget that, at the time that our Bible was translated into English and made available to the common man, the English language was at its zenith. From that early King James Bible have come verses that we have known since childhood:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."  John 3:16

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." Eph. 2:8

In fact, that early translation of the Bible has become such a part of our day-to-day language that we are no longer aware of it. To emphasize the impact that the Bible has had on the English language, I thought that I would provide a fun, little quiz to show how frequently we use phrases from the Bible without even knowing the source. 

See which of the following phrases you think originated from the Bible and then check back next week to see how well you did.

1. A sorry sight
2. Apple of his eye
3. To pine away
4. A fool's paradise
5. The skin of his teeth
6. All of a sudden
7. The blind leading the blind
8. As dead as a doornail
9. As pure as the driven snow
10. The eleventh hour
11. Beside himself
12. His head on a plate
13. Dash to pieces
14. A stone's throw
15. Eaten out of house and home
16. Heart's content
17. Sharper than a serpent's tooth
18. Hold my tongue
19. Safe and sound
20. The crack of doom

"Works" is Not a Four-Letter Word

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works,

which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

Just try to bring up the topic of works in your Bible group and see what happens.  At the mention of works, most believers bring up Ephesians 2:8-9 faster than Buffy raises a cross to ward off vampires. Now don't get me wrong. I am so thankful that we don't have to depend upon our works for salvation.Nothing that I have done (or ever will do) could earn me a place in heaven. I have faith that I am saved by the grace of God, who sent His son, Jesus Christ, to die for my sin.

My concern is that, despite the number of times that I have heard Ephesians 2:8-9 quoted by Christians, I rarely hear verse 10 mentioned. We all agree that works has nothing to do with salvation, but once saved, where do works fit in?  According to Paul, we were created to do good works and to walk in them.  That word "walk" is the same word used to command us to "walk" by faith.

It would seem that walking by faith and walking in good works go hand in hand according to Paul.  He is not alone in this belief. James tells us that faith without works is dead (James 2:17).  That isn't a statement that would go over well in most of the small group studies that I have attended.  Surely James can't have meant that a lack of godly works a person's life might mean that they have a phony faith, could he?  That certainly doesn't sound like it belongs to the feel-good, don't-put-anyone-under- conviction philosophy that I've been hearing in most American churches.

Think about it.  When was the last time that you were challenged to refine your spiritual disciplines like fasting, daily personal devotions, or real sacrificial giving.  When was the last time that you even heard the expression "spiritual disciplines?" Face it, we've become spiritual couch potatoes who would much rather throw a little money at others who are doing good works (like Operation Christmas Child or the Red Cross) than to have to get our hands dirty by actually doing the work.

A growing, vibrant faith will compel us to do good works; and as we move further outside our comfort zone to do more and more ministry, our faith will flourish.  I challenge you to get of that (figurative) couch and start looking around at the ministry opportunities that God has already placed around you.  If you have trouble seeing one, just ask about helping out in the children's department at church.  There is always a shortage of willing workers there.

The funny thing about doing good works is that you often go into it thinking that you will make others happy and finding out that you were the one who got the greatest blessing after all.