Words – Use Wisely

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. — Colossians 4:2-6

I can’t believe he said that to me! Did you hear what she just said? I finally got word they were OK.

Every day roughly 16,000 words are spoken according to a University of Arizona study with no discernable difference between the number that men or women speak. That’s a lot of words! Words that encourage and words that deflate. Words that bless and words that curse. Words to give information and words to bring comfort.

Thankfully you are no longer limited to the approximately 470,000 words in the Merriam-Webster dictionary, they just added 455 new words and definitions in October. Language continually evolves, adding new words almost daily. Surely with this number of choices, you can find a word that is appropriate for the occasion.

Men no longer have a slight belly, they now have a ‘dad bod.’ You can now be a ‘digital nomad’ if you normally work over the internet while traveling. You no longer have to settle for a simple sandwich, you can have a ‘fluffernutter, horchata, chicharron, or Goetta.’ It shouldn’t come as a surprise but “Vax” is Oxford Languages’ word of the year.

No one can escape the word saturated culture we live in today. According to recent statistics, the average time Americans spend on mobile devices is three hours and 54 minutes a day. You can add to this number another three hours and 22 minutes for TV watching. This climate of word saturation can set a pattern of use that no longer encourages us or honors God. Christine Wang writes, “as a society, we like to swear. Swear words have a strange power over us. It starts when we are young when they are deliciously taboo. Then, as we age, our dependence on swear words increases to the point where as an adult, we find that the magnitude of our emotions can only be captured by cursing.”

In this vast reservoir of words to draw from, what do you do with your words? We could use the newest, trendy words. Or we could use the good, old-fashioned curse words.  Whatever, or however, we use our words, “Words have power. With your words you can wound and weaken the people who matter most in your life, such as your colleagues and subordinates, your family members and friends, your neighbors near and far. Or you can use your words to bless those who are close to you, to build them up, encourage, and energize them.” — Mark Roberts

Without a doubt, we need new words to describe our ever-expanding world of language. I guess the world is better off now that the words “blank check company, a doorbell camera, air fryer, ghost kitchen, halotherapy” have found their way into the Merriam-Webster list of words.

Most likely the trendy words of today will be out of vogue with the next generation. However, Jesus offers words that this generation and the next and the next will need long after the air fryer goes to the dump. “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.” –John 6:63

Jesus knew a few things about words since he is the ultimate Word. “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” — John 1:14

Words do have power, use your 16,000 words today with grace and wisdom. Our world is greatly in need of words that give life. Words that give hope. Words that glorify God. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.” — Psalm 19:14

God is great,