Proverbs 18:21-22
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favor of the Lord."
Everyone in the church knows these two verses individually. But, God asked me to consider that there may be a good reason they are together. I didn't have to consider long before I knew what He was trying to show me.
I always hear "the wife/mother sets the tone of the house". I believe that and God has given me several examples of life with a cranky woman (Proverbs 21:19; Proverbs 25:24; Proverbs 27:15-16). But this passage in Proverbs 18 flew off the page at me as I read it... again.
I think its something that Solomon would speak of the tongue and a wife in the same spot. These verse are great on their own, but when read together, they preach a whole different sermon! I am my husband's greatest influence, I can make him or break him quicker than anyone else. I have great power and I need to use it wisely. A wife, who uses her tongue wisely, is a treasure and, these days, a very rare find!
If I love my tongue and the power it holds I will take great care for it. After all, I don't want the fruit I eat to be rotten!
This bit of my heart as been quite convicting to me, as I tend to be a bit mouthy and am known for wanting the last word. I pray this was an encouragement for you as well. If you are not yet a wife, I hope this is something you can store away in your heart for the future.
God Bless!
~Becky
