Just A Few Words About Words by Anne Louise
Gremminger
Ever since I learned to read, I have had a love of books, writing, and word games such as Scrabble®. As a child, I spent many hours sprawled across my bed with my dad’s big college dictionary, finding treasure within its pages. Each entry represented a gemstone to be added to my expanding vocabulary. My children have a word for that. They say it makes me a ‘nerd.’
My most highly treasured reading material today comes with the greatest of all book reviews ever written. “Behold, I have come-- In the volume of the book it is written of Me-- To do Your will, O God.” (Hebrews 10:7). The Bible reveals the Word of Life, the Lord Jesus Christ. “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-- the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us” (1 John 1:1,2)
It has been said that the pen is mightier than the sword. It has also been said, “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.” (Proverbs 15:2) Consider what Jesus said, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36). Words have great power and we must take great care in our use of them.
Recently, I became involved in a discussion about words. At that particular time, for that particular setting, it was necessary to present words of truth. However, this morning, the Lord led me to a passage which I have taken as a very serious warning for any future word issues that may arise.
2 Timothy 2:14 says, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers.” The Complete Jewish Bible’s rendering is what instilled, if you will, the fear of God in me, in regard to word usage. Disputing over words can be “a catastrophe for the hearers!”
Our words, as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, must edify and encourage others to righteousness. Debates over words will have the opposite effect, therefore we must “shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer.” (v.16,17)
“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29) We’ve already discussed the treasure to be found within the pages of the Word of God. We cannot risk tainting the wonderful message of the love of God by the foolish use of words. “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). We must have the utmost diligence in our conduct before God, including the use of our words and of His Word.
Paul said that the fruitless disputing over words leads to ungodliness which spreads like a cancer. 1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” If we are not cautious with our words, if we do not control how we use this powerful tool of language God has given us, we will be extending an invitation to the devil to come right into the flock, “seeking whom he may devour.”
We are given further warning in 1 Timothy chapter 6. “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” (v. 3-5)
To guard against these things, the apostle exhorts us to “Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” (2 Timothy 1:13,14)
How will you use your words? Will you use them to dispute and cause “ a catastrophe for the hearers”? Or will you choose to be “nourished in the words of faith and of the good doctrine which you have carefully followed”? When Jesus returns, will you be found, “holding fast the word of life”?
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
(1 Timothy 4:6, Philippians 2:16, Colossians 3:16)
Unless otherwise indicated
Scripture taken from the New King James Version.
Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Used by permission. All rights reserved
Scripture quotations are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible,
copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern.
Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc.
www.messianicjewish.net/jntp.
Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources.
www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission