Taming the tongue
Can you think of a time when you said something that you later regretted? Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘I wish I hadn’t said that’? Our words have the power to encourage and bless others. But they also have the ability to wound and curse. James describes the tongue as ‘a restless evil, full of deadly poison’. He also says that ‘No one can tame the tongue’ (James 3:7-9). Without God’s help this is true. If you find that hard to believe, try going for 24 hours without saying anything that you would prefer not to have said. Then check with your friends and family to see if they agree that you’ve had a perfect day!
Jesus tells us that what comes out of a person’s mouth reflects what is in their heart.
(Matthew 12:34) So, attempting to clamp our lips leaves things too late. Instead,
we need to look at the attitudes and thoughts which feed our speech. In Proverbs
it says, ‘Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.’ (Proverbs 4:22) What we ‘deposit into’ our thoughts and attitudes is what we will later ‘withdraw’ in our conversations. If our heart is filled with bitterness, criticism and pride this is what will come out in our speech.
To really tame the tongue, we need to surrender our hearts and minds to the goodness and guidance of God. The apostle Paul tells Christians that they can have ‘the mind of Christ’. (1 Corinthians 2:16) He also urges them to surrender their thoughts to God. (Romans 12:2) As we do this, our tongue will reflect the positive values described in the Proverbs below:
‘The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.’
(Proverbs 18:21)
‘Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing’.
(Proverbs 12:18)
‘Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.’
(Proverbs 17:28)
Jesus also says, ‘But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.’ (Matthew 12:36-37) For most of us, this is a disturbing idea. While we may not be able to ‘tame our tongue’, this is not a cause for despair or an excuse for abuse. Instead, it is a reminder that we need God’s help to live like Jesus.
Do you use your tongue to bless or curse others? Does the way that you speak honour God?
Jesus tells us that what comes out of a person’s mouth reflects what is in their heart.
(Matthew 12:34) So, attempting to clamp our lips leaves things too late. Instead,
we need to look at the attitudes and thoughts which feed our speech. In Proverbs
it says, ‘Guard your heart for it is the wellspring of life.’ (Proverbs 4:22) What we ‘deposit into’ our thoughts and attitudes is what we will later ‘withdraw’ in our conversations. If our heart is filled with bitterness, criticism and pride this is what will come out in our speech.
To really tame the tongue, we need to surrender our hearts and minds to the goodness and guidance of God. The apostle Paul tells Christians that they can have ‘the mind of Christ’. (1 Corinthians 2:16) He also urges them to surrender their thoughts to God. (Romans 12:2) As we do this, our tongue will reflect the positive values described in the Proverbs below:
‘The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.’
(Proverbs 18:21)
‘Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing’.
(Proverbs 12:18)
‘Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.’
(Proverbs 17:28)
Jesus also says, ‘But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.’ (Matthew 12:36-37) For most of us, this is a disturbing idea. While we may not be able to ‘tame our tongue’, this is not a cause for despair or an excuse for abuse. Instead, it is a reminder that we need God’s help to live like Jesus.
Do you use your tongue to bless or curse others? Does the way that you speak honour God?
posted by Peter Wilson at 3:38 PM
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