The Importance of Language

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself how important is Language?  Why is it so important that we take a proper view in regards to language?  I want to look at three specific aspects of language that will show us the importance of language.

The Origination of Language


Creation
Language originated with God.  We see this in the creation of the world.  Remember before day 1 of Creation the only being was God.  The angels where not even in existence and then God spoke and created the world.  God was the originator of Language.  Look at verse 3 where it says God said let their be light and their was light.  As you read through out the rest of the Genesis we see God using his spoken language to create the world.  Not only that but we see in Genesis 2:16 that God speaks to Adam who understood what God was saying.

Babel
In Genesis 11 we see another example of people who used language to create something.  The descendants of Noah after traveling for a while found a plain where they decided that instead of spreading out and inhabiting the earth would live in one spot and build a giant tower that would reach the heavens.  They decided to disobey the command of God and in their pride they said, "Come, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.” And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar. 4 Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be dispersed over the face of the whole earth.”

Our language
The origination of the language that we use comes from our heart.  In Matthew 12:33-37 we see our language comes out of our heart, "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, 37 for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
I have heard many people say that they just opened their mouth and the words just fell out, but we know that this is not a true statement.  Control your passions and thoughts and your mouth will not disappoint.  I try to memorize so much Scripture so that I am constantly thinking on what God would say in a given situation.  I want my initial response to be what Christ would have me to say.

The Power of Language


Creation
As God spoke things began to change.  He said let their be light and there was light.  He said let there be plants and their were plants.  He told Adam the expectations of obedience in the Garden and they were so.  This is why it is important for us to study the Word that God has given to us.  If the God who created the Earth with his voice says something then we should pay attention to what he has to say.  God does not mince his words in regards to sin.  When He says it is sin we better pay attention to it.

Babel
I wonder who was the first person at Babel who began to convince all these people to disobey God and do their own thing.  They used their language to tear down the commands that God had given them.
How many times do we try to twist or even just blatantly use our language to encourage others to disobey God?  This is scary to think that we could use language to tear others down.

Our language
In James 3;1-12 we see that the tongue can do a lot of trouble.  The most convicting part of this chapter to me is in verse 9 where it talks about we use our tongue to exalt God and then we turn around and destroy the very people God created.  This is so convicting.  We go into church and praise God and then we walk out and speak critically about the people we were just with.  Or we drive in our car and sing about God until someone cuts us off and then we talk about the stupid idiot in front of us.  Our tongues are powerful.  Our language is powerful and we must control it.

The Result of Language


Creation
At the end of Creation we see that God looked over all that He spoke into existence and said it is Good.  I find it incredible that at the end of the original speech everything was good.  The source of the speech is the main reason for this.  God in His Goodness used His tongue to create something good.

Babel
In verse 8 of Genesis 11 we see that God confused their language to help them understand that they need to spread out.  The language was the part that He confused. I find it interesting that it was their language that ultimately was confused to help them see the importance of the command to spread out over the earth.

Our language
In James 1:26 it says that our language is more important than our personal belief about our spirituality, "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless."  We must control our tongue in order to show our spiritualness.  A person who is undisciplined in their use of language will effect their testimony.