“Words are free. It’s how you use them, that may cost you.”
(KUSHANDWISDOM via Pinterest.com )

Last week we looked at how we can spend our words to tear people down. We spend our
words carelessly at times. We can choose to invest our words in others in a positive way instead.
When we invest our words, we will often receive far more in return than we expect. We may
gain family, friends, spiritual brethren, credibility, the respect of others, and possibly even the
preservation of our own souls.
Four ways that we can build up others: 1) Speak words of appreciation for who they are. Let
them know that we appreciate their kindness, goodness, love, intelligence, etc. 2) Speak words of
thanksgiving for the things they have done. Let them know that we have noticed their actions of
love and kindness. 3) Speak words of encouragement for who they can become. Exhort them to
live up to the potentials they possess. 4) Speak words of exhortation for who they should
become. Encourage them in their faith and their need to be loyal to God.
Each of us, whether we are a child, teen, young adult, or a mature adult, needs to hear these
types of valuable words. “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes
him glad” (Proverbs 12:25, ESV). “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul
and health to the bones” (Proverbs 16:24, ESV). “There is one whose rash words are like sword
thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Pro. 12:18, ESV).
We have a responsibility to monitor and think about each word that leaves our mouth. We
are responsible for the power that we wield with each word we use. “Words are free. It’s how
you use them that may cost you.” May we wisely invest every word we utter. ~B Tolbert