“The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked are, ‘Lie in wait for blood,’ but the mouth of the upright will deliver them” (Proverbs 12:5-6).
Words are the inevitable expressions of a person’s thoughts. If your words are righteous, your thoughts are right and your words will be right and beneficial to others. If you are wicked, your thoughts are wicked and your words will be deceitful and aimed at hurting others. It is out of the abundance of your heart that your words and actions proceed (Mat. 12:34; Mark 7:21-23).
Words, ultimately, are the clearest expression of your character. For the one who is hungrily pursuing righteousness, his “Yes” means “Yes” and his “No” means “No” (Mat. 5:37; James 5:12). There are no shades of gray in his speech, because there are no shades of gray in his character. However, everyone who speaks deceitfully has an evil character.
“By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:37).
