Living in a land with readily accessibly tap water, we cannot fathom how critical wells are for people living in the desert. Water means life. Powerful armies can be quickly brought to ruin if their water supply runs short. Entire communities will be abandoned if the water source evaporates. Likewise, nothing was more pleasing to the eye of a weary, desert traveler than the sight of an oasis built around a water source. There might be parched desert all around but the ground by the well would be lush and green.
We live in a dry, thirsty land that parches our souls. The carnal temptations, worldly values, evil people, tragic occurrences, and pain and suffering that surrounds us can sap our soul of its spiritual vitality. The world is filled with “takers” who draw from us whatever they can.
In such a spiritually dehydrating world, it is refreshing to spend time near a righteous person whose mouth is a well of life. These are people who restore your soul through their words. They speak life into you and encourage you. Their words are seasoned with grace that helps you become more like Christ. Forgiveness freely flows from their lips. Their conversations are often interrupted with peels of laughter and joy. What an oasis to meet someone like this in a sea of negative, critical, carnal voices!
The wicked, on the other hand, speak evil of others. They constantly tear people down. They speak words of death rather than life. To be in a conversation with such people drains the life out of you and robs you of your joy.
So what kind of person are you? Do people view conversations with you as an oasis in a parched land? Or, do they come away from conversations with you feeling worse and more negative than they did before? Jesus said what came out of our mouth revealed what was in our heart. Presently, is life or death, proceeding from your lips?