The ability to communicate with words is the one gift from God which sets man apart. It gives man the proficiency for mastery of the earth. Without communicative skills, man could never have subdued the earth and dominated it.

Communication with words is also the means, which God has chosen to disseminate the gospel. The apostles were told to go into the entire world and preach [teach] the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20). Paul tells us that faith comes to individuals through hearing the word (Romans 10:17). He had previously taught by asking rhetorical questions that one hears the word from the preacher (Romans 10:14). He also gave Timothy instruction to preach the word (2 Timothy 4:2).

The Christian’s communication skills are to be used to edify one another (Ephesians 4:29). We accomplish this when we sing in the assembly of the church (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). This puts emphasis on the necessity of assembling ourselves together to provoke unto love and good works (Hebrews 10:24-25).

Having considered the potential importance of communication, we must also contemplate the responsibility to use this ability judiciously. If we are not careful how we speak, we will do more harm than good. This is especially true in our age of instant communication through such technology as e-mail.

Consider the case of the Illinois man who left the snow-filled streets of Chicago for a vacation in Florida. His wife, who was on a business trip, planned to meet him there the next day.

When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick e-mail. Unable to find the scrap of paper, on which he had written her e-mail address, he did his best to type it from memory. Unfortunately, he missed one letter, and his note was sent to an elderly preacher’s wife, whose husband had passed away the previous day.

When the grieving widow checked her e-mail, she took one look at the monitor, let out a piercing scream, and fell to the floor in a faint. At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen. “Dearest Wife, Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow. P.S.  Sure is hot down here!

James’ teaching on the tongue (James 3:1-10) informs us how destructive words can be. Not only do they destroy the hearer but also the one who fails to control his tongue. The idea that one has the right to  ‘speak his mind’ when offended by another is a lie of the devil. Those who hurt others by their words will suffer the consequences of their action.

In teaching on the marriage relationship, I caution spouses about their words. Husbands and wives do not fight fair because they know the other’s flaws. They can say things to the other spouse that wound deeply. Be careful what you say, it could destroy your marriage, destroy another person or even destroy you in Hell.