There are many ways we use our words each day. In a recent study researchers found that on average, women speak 16,215 words per day and men speak 15,669 words per day. Some people use very few words and some people seem to never stop talking, even to talking in their sleep. By the time we are one year old, most of us are using words and our vocabulary only grows from there. Today, let us begin to look at how we spend our words. Most of us use at least some of our words each day in a negative way. Gossiping, lying, backbiting, cursing, telling coarse jokes, and complaining are all ways of spending our words. When we spend our words in these fashions, the cost will often be far more than we ever imagined. We may lose family, friends, spiritual brethren, credibility, the respect of others, and possibly even our own souls. Jesus said, “I tell you on the day of judgement people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37 ESV). Paul exhorted, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29). How we use our words each day can have a great impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. We can spend these words in a careless even destructive manner or we can use them in a productive way, to build people up. Brad Tolbert, Monticello, AR

The Great Lie:

“Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words will never hurt me”