Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit of it.
The promise of life and the threat of death are both in the tongue. “Tongue” is a symbol of the words we say, how we say them by tone of voice, and the facial expressions used in the speaking. Body language expresses what’s right or wrong in the heart. Is our tongue used to speak from the saint or the sinner inside? We don’t think about it when we talk, but where our speech comes from determines where it is going, toward death or toward life.
We don’t normally realize the power of the tongue, but it is not innocuous. James 3:8-10: “No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.” Awesome power has been given to our talking. We have the power to produce life or death, to bring a blessing or a curse.
But we can’t consciously control it. It comes from a source. James goes on to say: The wisdom not from above is “earthly, unspiritual, demonic.” The wisdom from above is “pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown.” What a difference! What our words do depends on the source, and both sources live in us, in the heart.
Therefore, we believe the promise, and fear the threat, so that we may nourish and nurture the saint within, the Holy Spirit in our spirit. Remember: you have been given the power to give life. Eat life-giving fruit!