The Overflow

What we say and how we say it is very important in our culture. And that varies greatly from place to place. Growing up in a holiness church we were not allowed to say “golly” or “gee.” But hearing “Did you hear what so-and-so did?” was not uncommon. I experienced the cultural importance of language in Jamaica; when preaching one day I nearly lost the entire congregation when I pointed out that our son was a “stinker,” only to discover that this was one of the most profane words on that island. (Other words I considered profane were a normal part of their daily vocabulary.) We can be so focused on the cultural significance of language that we forget the moral and spiritual power of our words.

King David described the people who live in God’s presence, who can never be shaken, this way: They is the one “who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others” (Psalm 15:2-3). A person’s words reflect the moral condition and spiritual health of his heart. That’s why David could sincerely pray, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight” (Psalm 19:14). What if he wanted to receive blessings from the Lord? “Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies” (Psalm 34:12-13). His commitment was simple. “I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth” (Psalm 39:1), and “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3).

The prophet Isaiah saw the power of sin primarily in terms of the use of his words. When he saw a revelation of the holiness of God he responded, “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips” (6:5). When God then pronounced his forgiveness for Isaiah we read, “Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. With it he touched my mouth and said, ‘See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for’” (6:6-7). How could the atonement for Isaiah’s sins be accomplished by touching his mouth with the fire of holiness? Clearly our words have more significance than we know.

Jesus explained it most clearly: “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of” (Matthew 12:34). Other translations bring further clarity to what Jesus was teaching. “It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words” (Msg.) “For whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (NLT). “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (KJV). It’s helpful to note the context of this saying. The Pharisees had been claiming that Jesus was driving out unclean spirits “by Beelzbul, the prince of demons” (v. 24). Jesus responded by warning them of the possibility of blasphemy, but concluded that it was really impossible for “you who are evil [to] say anything good” (v. 34). Because their hearts were evil, the effect of their words would always end up being destructive.

There is really no way to overstate the power of our words, for both good and ill. The true condition of our hearts will always eventually overflow in our words. If our hearts are filled with self-pity and self-centeredness, it will ultimately be heard in our words. If our hearts are filled with fear and worry, our words will reveal it. If faith is filling our hearts, that too will be – and must be – evident in our words. The apostle Paul wrote, “’The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,’ that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:7-9). Our words literally participate in our salvation – our deliverance and life of faith and overcoming. In fact, more than anyone else, you need to hear words of faith and hope coming out of your own mouth! Your words enter into your ears and mind first – you are the first partaker of the power of your words. Your words will participate powerfully in your spiritual health, growth and fruitfulness. “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech” (1 Peter 3:10). After all, our words are simply the overflow from our heart.

When I was a kid I learned a little poem: “Sticks and stones may break my bones / but words can never hurt me.” I can’t imagine anything further from the truth. Broken bones will heal but words haunt us every day of our lives. All of us have experienced the power of words. “You’ll never amount to anything” has kept untold people from experiencing growth into their potential. On the other hand, “I believe in you” has liberated many, giving them a sense of permission to move ahead into all God had in store for them. The power of life and death is literally in your mouth, in your words. How will you use that power?