A 10-year-old boy once worked in a factory. One of seven siblings, the youngster was doing this because his family faced poverty. The boy had a dream of becoming a singer and began taking voice lessons. However, his teacher had a terrible way of encouraging him: "Your voice sounds like wind in the shutter."

Undeterred, the boy's mother took a different tack. She told the boy she could see improvement. To prove it, she went barefoot to pay for more lessons. That changed the boy's life.

His name? Enrico Caruso, the greatest tenor of his age and a pioneer of modern music (story adapted from How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, page 228). And therein is a lesson for you and me.

Solomon said in Proverbs 25:11: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver."

Do our words mimic this? What do our words look like?

In my years in God's Church, I can point to specific times and people, ministers and members alike, where words of grace and truth illuminated this beautiful saying. I recall words of encouragement—and correction given in love—and I am grateful for each.

We are all here as a direct result of the grace of God and His words, meaning the Bible. Indeed, as Peter said to Jesus Christ, "You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68).

So—what do our words look like? Are they wormy and spoiled and rotten? Or are they fresh and beautiful, wholesome and uplifting? Can others literally say our words are food for thought? Do we nourish others? Do our words give life? Or do we make others ill?

Solomon also said life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). Whose life have we helped or hurt lately?

Sadly, we all blow it from time to time. We speak before we think. Or we think then speak anyway. We choose to sin with our tongue and hurt others. No wonder God holds us accountable for what we say. Since we can sin with our words, we should always strive to speak only those things that please God.

Jesus Christ said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matthew 12:34). Perhaps we need to pray more—and probably fast more—to practice God's way of life. Only God can work in our hearts to bring about the thinking that produces spiritual words of life.

If we eat the bread of life, we will speak it to others. Starting now, let's repent and do as Paul said: speak the truth in love. If we do, one day we will hear the ultimate words of life: "Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of your Lord."