Walking With Christ

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. This proverb is rich with meaning. Glass, by nature, is fragile; when struck, it shatters. Glass is also transparent, allowing light to pass through. For today’s message, we’ll focus on clear glass. This saying warns us against attacking others when we ourselves are vulnerable.

Matthew 7:3 Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye?(ESV)

We often hear, “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” On a deeper level, this suggests hardening our hearts so words cannot affect us. But the truth is, words can and do hurt. Words are seeds—either fruitful or weedy—but they can also be stones. Words can inflict damage much deeper and harder to heal than any physical blow. Weeds grow and drain nutrients from fruitful plants, but rocks can prevent growth altogether.

John 8:7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”(ESV)

What’s in our hearts pours out in words. Words lead to actions. They can be seeds of healing, weeds that choke future growth, or rocks of immediate destruction. Like a rock thrown in anger, we cannot control the impact of our words once they leave us. We can’t change their trajectory or take back the pain caused by misused words.

Remember, it won’t be stones we face on Judgment Day but words. We will either hear, “I knew you not” or “Welcome, my good and faithful servant.”

As we reflect on our interactions, let’s be mindful of the fragility of others and the power of our words. Let’s ensure our words build up rather than tear down, plant seeds of hope instead of weeds of despair, and create paths of healing rather than barriers of hurt.