SPEECH SEASONED WITH SALT
Study Text: Colossians 4: 6
Introduction:
- Words have power, and proper use of that power requires wisdom. We need to recognise the positive uses of the power of speech, and seek divine direction for exercising wisdom in what we say.
- In the words of Solomon: “The power of life and death is in the tongue.”(Proverbs 18:21). Words can produce various kinds of death: the death of a dream, the death of a relationship, the death of self-image.
- Words also can produce life to the hearers: words can give them hope for the future, give excitement about their purpose, or make them feel good and develop confidence in themselves.
- As believers, we are not messengers of death, but messengers of life. That is why we are encouraged to allow our speech to others, to be with grace and seasoned with salt.
- Not that we should speak enticing, flattering or deceptive words to people, but the words that can produce joy, encouragement and preservation of lives in the will of God.
- Well, your words do have impact. In fact, you are probably far more influential in people’s lives than you realize. How can you harness that force and make sure you’re a speaking the “power of life” into people, and not the “power of death”?
- What can you do to become the kind of person that people stop to listen to every time they see you open your mouth to speak?
- Our speech should be:
i. Seasoned with God’s Word: Avoid offensive and destructive words against yourself and others.
ii. Screened by the Word of God: Avoid corruptive, immoral and unwholesome words in all your communications.
- As a Christian, can you say your mouth is a source of healing or a source of hurting? Is your mouth a wellspring of truth and praise or is your mouth a garbage can of gossip, lies and false witnesses?
- Do you use your mouth to encourage, edify and build up, or do you use your mouth to discourage, nullify and breakdown?
- We shall discuss the topic under three sub-headings:
1. Speaking Wisely by Controlling your Impulses
2. Speaking Kindly by Curtailing your Bitterness
3. Speaking Graciously by Correcting your Attitude
1. Speaking Wisely by Controlling your Impulses Proverbs 12:18
- In this proverb, Solomon dramatically portrays how powerful our speech is. Reckless words are not something to be taken lightly – they have the power to wound as fiercely as a sword can.
- What are reckless words? These are the words you say without thinking, impulsive words that aren’t checked by self-control.
- You’re especially likely to speak recklessly when your defences are at their lowest, such as when you’re tired, stressed, irritated, frustrated, feeling put out, and feeling used, or feeling ill.
- What are healing words? Healing words, according to this proverb, are wise words. These are words that are carefully chosen for the need of the person hearing them. Wise words are usually not spoken in haste or out of an emotional reaction, but words that reflect God’s perspective on the situation.
- Why is it so important to exercise self-control over our words and keep from speaking recklessly? James 1:26. Exercising self-control over our impulsive reactions can be difficult. How exactly can we speak wisely when we don’t feel like it?
- Pray for God’s restraint, and pause before you speak. Psalm 141:3, Proverbs 16:23. So, don’t hurt hurting people more by speaking recklessly. Heal hurting people by speaking words of wisdom, which you can do by praying and pausing before you speak.
- We can see example of reckless words spoken by Eliab to his brother David when David brought food for them and discovered the harassment by Goliath. Imagine how Eliab will feel about his words to David, after the young man eventually conquered Goliath. 1 Samuel 17: 17 – 29.
- In the same situation, we can see the example of a wise word spoken to David by King Saul. 1 Samuel 17: 33 – 37. Saul was concerned about the safety of the young boy, and after David convinced him by his testimony, he prayed for him and encourage him.
- We can also see the example of a man that spoke to Jesus impulsively about following without counting the cost. Jesus response to him proven to us that the man did not control his impulse. Luke 9: 57 – 58.
2. Speaking Kindly by Curtailing your Bitterness Proverbs 15:4
- When you speak words of kindness, it has a dramatic impact as the healing powers of a tree of life. In the Bible, the “tree of life” represents immortality. On the other hand, words that come out of a hurtful spirit have the power to “crush the spirit,” “break the heart,” or even “wound and maim.” The tongue has the power to permanently cripple another person.
- When are you most likely to speak such damaging words? Hurtful words come out of a hurt heart. If you are finding yourself speaking cutting, crushing words to someone, examine what is in your heart towards that person. Have you been nurturing bitterness against them? How about an unforgiveness? Or a streak of self-centeredness? James 4:1.
- So, if your self-centred desires are at the heart of your hurtful words, what do you do about it? Paul tell us something to get rid of, something to be, and something to do. Ephesians 4:31, 32
- The key to being able to speak kindly and be an agent of healing and life for another person is to clear any bitterness out of your relationship with them. You do that through forgiveness.
- So, don’t crush people with words of bitterness. Release them through forgiveness, and give life and healing to them with words of kindness.
- Just because Haman was angry and bitter against Mordecai, he spoke to the king about destroying all the Jews. The people have been with them for a long time without any problem, but now, he does not want to see them again. Esther 3: 8 -11.
- We can also see the example of Nabal speaking out of bitterness against David and his servants and refused to give them food even after pleading with him. 1 Samuel 25: 9 – 11.
3. Speaking Graciously by Correcting your Attitude Proverbs 16:24
- When searching for an image for pleasant words, Solomon chose honey; sweet to the taste and healing to the body. “Pleasant words are sweet to the soul.”
- When you’re around someone who is habitually negative, whose words are not pleasant
and sweet to the soul, you can be sure that what is inside them is not pleasant. In fact, the Bible tells us that this is the case. Matthew 15:18
- If you were to examine your own words, and put the positive ones on one side of a scale, and the negative ones on the other side, which side would weigh more?
- If you have to admit that you tend to be more of a negative person, just trying harder is probably not going to make you speak more pleasantly or positively.
- The Bible tells us that it goes deeper than that. You need heart surgery. Ezekiel 18:31
Psalm 51:10“Create in me a clean heart, O God.” Once you have your heart right before God, you will find that what’s coming out of your mouth is more pleasant, sweeter to the hearer, and more healing to their souls.
- Don’t you want to be known for that kind of speech? Another word for that type of speech is “encouragement.” Be an encourager. Find a way to work a word of encouragement into every conversation you have with people at all times.
- Make it a goal to not leave a conversation without speaking a positive uplifting word to every person you talk to at every time you have to do so.
- We can see how Nabal’s wife Abigail demonstrated a different attitude from that of her husband, and went ahead to meet David and his troops, and succeeded in pacifying their anger. 1 Samuel 25: 14 – 33.
- We can see the gracious words king Darius spoke to Daniel, even though he has to unavoidably throw him into the lion’s den because of the law of the land. He has a different attitude from those of the wicked people in their land. Daniel 6: 14 – 17.
Conclusion
- We have uncovered some strong prescriptions for our mouths in Proverbs. Solomon has told us to not give in to our moods, but to speak wisely. He says to forgive bitterness so we can speak kindly. Finally, we are to let God clean out our hearts and correct our attitudes so that we can speak positively.
- We can close with the admonition in Ephesians 4:29: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs that it may benefit those who listen.”
- There is no better summary of everything we have talked about than this verse. Ask God to help you get rid of any unwholesome talk – reckless words, cutting words, negative words.
- Try finding some way to build people up during every interaction you have with people at all times. Speak wisely, speak kindly, and speak positively.
