A question about Proverbs 18:21

My rudder has gotten me in trouble on more than one ʰᵘⁿᵈʳᵉᵈ occasionˢ

Thanks for sharing this, but you're not so naive as to think you can talk your way or write your way into or out of anything, are you?

No. ☻ However, I'm not certain I'm answering with the knowledge of exactly what you mean.

Let me explain what I'm talking about. Proverbs 18:21 of the King James Bible says that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." Does that mean that the words of all eight billion people on the planet have enough power to either bring people back from the dead or kill people? The words of God and the words of the Son of God certainly have that much power, but what about the rest of us?

If you're an executioner or a military officer or a judge or a head of state (in this case, the Red Queen from Alice In Wonderland who likes to shriek "Off with his/her head!" and knows she can count on her underlings to carry out her wishes) who has the authority to sentence someone to death or to order someone to be killed, then the power of death is clearly in your tongue. But what about the rest of us nobodies who do not have that level of authority?

There are a lot of people on this planet who sincerely and naively believe that their words are so powerful that they can talk or write their way into or out of anything. Maybe a small percentage of them actually can, but the vast majority of people will someday find out that they can't, as you and I already have. Someday, someone will not give you what you want just because you requested it with your words. Someday, someone will not believe you. Someday, someone will not be impressed by what you say or what you write, and that someone will make it crystal clear to you that they are not impressed. And when that happens, you will no longer take those who say or write "Words have power" or similar sayings very seriously.

When you realize your words will not always have power, you will find various ways to cope with that realization. You may choose to focus your words on the people who actually want to hear or read what you have to say or write. You may decide to do things for yourself instead of asking other people to do them for you (and you might prefer to do so if you can deliver better results than them). You may decide to prove your worth by maximizing your actions and minimizing your words.

In short, I don't want to exaggerate the power of words, because if I do, people will no longer take me seriously when they realize words don't always have power.

Nicely stated. Thanks for clarifying. I have known people like those you describe: those who lack wisdom on what their words can and cannot do, and the purpose of their words. In that camp, I might include those who know better, yet try to manipulate at every turn, hoping to get their way. I appreciate that you would take the time to ensure that I am not among those who are misled regarding the power of my own words. Thank you. I know that without Christ I am nothing (worth writing home about). And, I believe that HIS words actually can and do change anything and everything. If we humans use God's words properly, those have power.

I went back and examined my initial meme response—looking at it from your perspective (that you presented so well). I now see that I owe you an apology. My response was reactionary, not responsive. I viewed your meme as rhetorical, without even reading the title. For that I am sorry.

So, just how CAN the power of life and death be in our human tongues? I have a lengthy answer, starting all the way back at Genesis 1:26-30, but I'll skip ahead to the really good part.

In certain situations, all eight billion people do have the power of death and life in their tongues, the most important being the confession or rejection of Jesus as Lord. (Romans 10:9-10). This use of our words determines our eternal destiny.

I like your memes. From now on, I promise I'll read them more carefully. ☻

Thank you for your excellent response. Now I understand. Our words have the power to get us into Heaven or keep us out of Heaven, even if they do not have the power to do anything else while we're on Earth. Great job of summarizing on your part. Have an amazing weekend.

Wilco (will comply) There, I spelled it right that time LOL

Our words do indeed have the "power" to lift others up and to tear them down. Say something hurtful out of anger, jealousy, or spite and someone has been injured. Lie to someone. Betray a trust. Gossip about someone, even if it's true, and you diminish them and yourself. How many have been bullied? This has led to devastating outcomes for many. When we lift others up, maybe tell them why we appreciate them. Feed and talk to the homeless. Share the light of God with them. I posted a meme sometime ago about an individual that ended their life. When the authorities entered their apartment, they discovered a note that said if someone spoke to them on the way to the bridge that they wouldn't go through with it. There is indeed power in the tongue.

For our words to have power to lift others up and or tear them down, those others have to care about what we think and believe what we say. And not everyone will care what you think or believe what you say. If you attempt to build someone up, they might dismiss that attempt because they think you're being nice to them out of obligation, or you're too easy to please or satisfy, or because you don't know them that well, and they believe once you get to know them, you'll treat them just as badly as everyone else does.