I am reading Proverbs at the moment in Reading God's Story. Proverbs is wisdom literature, full of advice about how to live wisely. I've been struck by all the verses about the power of our words:
"Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit."
- Proverbs 18:21
I'm struck by it in part because we are reading the book of James over the next several weeks at church right now. James is said to be the wisdom literature of the New Testament. I think James sums up the message of wisdom literature best when he says:
"Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom." - James 3:13
He too emphasizes the power of our words:
"The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell." - James 3:6
It is interesting to read James alongside the Proverbs and see how their view on the wise life correspond to each other. At the same time, James has a new angle on wisdom due to the teachings of Jesus, which he incorporates those into his writing as well:
"Let your yes be yes and your no be no."
"Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?"
"Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Today I'm thinking about the power of my words, which I can use to either bless or curse. James says that we are to use them to bless, using a wisdom that comes down from heaven to us from God, just as every good gift comes from him:
"But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." - James 3:17
