Proverbs 15:1-2
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
You may have heard the adage; “The pen is mightier than the sword.” The sentence (if not the idea, which had been expressed in various earlier forms) was coined by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839 for his play Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy.
I would have the audacity to go one step further and suggest that the tongue is mightier than the pen. Here is one reason I would say that. In John 11 we read about the death of Lazarus. His two sisters came one at a time to meet the Lord. Each said the same words, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Martha received a mild rebuke while Mary received commendation. The difference must have been in the tone of voice.
It is critical that we control our tongue and the inferences that we use when we speak. I once counseled a man who was relating the words he used toward his wife. They sounded fairly mild. He returned to my office a few hours later and told me that he was wrong. He had indeed spoken the words he had related to me, but his tone of voice made them cut and hurt. Ahh! What a difference.
Read the words of our Scripture for today. Are you using your tongue to bring blessing to others, or is it MIGHTIER THAT A SWORD OR A PEN?!
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
—Pastor Cecil