Proverbs 18:20–21: A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the fruit of his mouth; From the produce of his lips he shall be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Insight
He who sows with his lips shall reap an abundant harvest, whether of sin unto death, or of righteousness unto life. Words seldom fall idly to the ground. Uttered often in thoughtlessness, they take root in congenial soil and come to fruition most unexpectedly. But if the words be evil, the harvest is just as certain; and it is well known that weeds and noxious plants will flourish where nourishing fruits and grains cannot come to perfection. The man of unholy lips shall find abundant result from his reckless words, and shall as truly as the other “eat the fruit thererof.” 1
Application
Jesus had a lot to say about our words and our accountability in Matthew 12:35–37:
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Your words matter. What kind of seeds are you planting? There is either death or life coming from the fruit of your words. Who is eating the fruit of your words?
Motivation
As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:15
Allow your words to be perfumed in love, and never spoken in haste. – TWEET IT
Prayer
Father, teach me to restrain my words until You have purified my heart.
1. Ironside, H. A. (1908). Notes on the Book of Proverbs. Neptune, NJ: Loizeaux Bros.
