In between Job’s last question and this one, Bildad interjects and says, basically, that Job ought to listen to the rebuke of his friends. Job then replies and says,
How long will you torment me
and break me in pieces with words?Job 19.2
Words are so powerful, aren’t they. Here we see Job’s friends using harsh and hard words towards him. Remember that old saying that ‘sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me‘? It’s not true, is it. Hard words hurt. Harsh words hurt. Even more so when tensions are high and emotions are frayed. Job is enduring the worst of all earthly circumstances and his friends have not chosen their words wisely, it seems.
We read in Proverbs that
Kind words are like honey—
sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.16.24
Words have the power to cut people down, but they also have the power to build people up. We read in the book of James that it is so important that we choose our words wisely (3.1-12). Words are so powerful, aren’t they.
Try as we might, we will never make the right choice with our words 100% of the time. But, there was One who did. Peter described this One as having words of eternal life (John 6.68-69).
There is only one place to go for words that always heal, always encourage, always edify, always build up.
There is only one place to go for words that are always sweet to the soul and are always healthy to the body.
There is only one place to go for words of eternal life.
In this time of global uncertainty, I would encourage you to make the same decision Peter does here,
…Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you want to go away as well?”
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6.67-69
James Travis 