Words As Provision (Proverbs 18:20)
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Proverbs 18:20
From the fruit of a man's mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
This verse echoes Paul’s sentiment in Galatians 6 when he says a man ‘reaps what he sows’. It’s a reminder that our words are like seeds, planted in the hearts of others and ourselves.
And just like seeds, those words grow into something – good or bad – and we can’t escape the harvest.
To help us think about this, let me ask you:
How healthy are you? How healthy are those around you?
By that I mean: Does the fruit of your mouth – the things you say – provide life to others, or does it take it away?
Think about this through the lens of a farmer. Is a farmer not careful about what kind of seeds he plants and waters in his fields, knowing that his harvest will be according to the seed planted?
In the same way, we have every reason to be intentional about the words we speak.
Imagine planting seeds of bitterness or anger in someone’s life – what kind of fruit will that grow? Now imagine planting seeds of kindness or encouragement – what kind of harvest might come from that?
My point is, your words are important.
Other people – and you yourself – feed on, chew, and digest the words you speak. They leave an impact, for better or for worse, promoting health or sickness.
And if this Proverb is true, which it is, telling us that people feed on and digest our words as a means of provision, should we not take what we say all the more seriously?
Now here’s the amazing thing about this: God doesn’t just call us to speak life and leave it there; He also gives us the power to do so through Jesus and the work of His Spirit. Jesus Himself is the ultimate example of gracious and life-giving speech. And through His death and resurrection, He transforms our hearts so that we can reflect Him in the words we speak.
Without Him, we’d keep planting seeds of selfishness and sin. But with Him, we’re made new, and we’re able to plant seeds of grace, truth, and love in the lives of those around us. It’s only through His grace that we can speak words that bring life instead of destruction.
So I ask you today:
What kind of ‘field’ are you cultivating with your words? Are you growing something healthy and life-giving? Or is it time to uproot some weeds?
How can you let the Lord transform your heart and your mouth to be a vessel that gives grace more often than it requires it?
Genuinely, every word you speak is a seed.
So what kind of harvest do you want to see in yourself and the lives of those around you?
Think about that, and let’s bring those thoughts and reflections to the Lord in prayer.
