He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity. Proverbs 21:23The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue. And why shouldn’t it? For the tongue has the power of life or death; it can build up or it can destroy. With the tongue we reveal the truth of what is on our mind and in our heart.
By our tongues we give define the nature of our character. If you want to know what kind of person I am; what I hold to be true; what I value; my moral standards; whom I love, etc.; listen to what I have to say. It does not take long to reveal the truth of one’s beliefs if you take the time to listen.
If you count the number of scriptures relating to the tongue (good or bad), the book of Psalm has the most to say about the tongue. The book of Proverbs returns a close second in the total number of verses referencing the tongue. However, the book of James has devoted an entire chapter (James 3) to the discussion of the tongue.
James begins in chapter 3, verse 2, by saying we must keep our whole body in check. He continues in verse 5 by saying that even though the tongue is small, it is powerful and is able to cause great damage. In verse 6, James completes this thought by designating the tongue, “a world of evil among the parts of the body”!
Not to worry; James does not leave us feeling hopeless; he begins to speak of the wisdom we obtain when we have a personal relationship with God, our Heavenly Father:
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. James 3:17-18James continues in chapter 4 by telling us if we submit ourselves to God, He will take care of us (and our frequently troublesome tongue)! Praise God!
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. James 4:7-10God Bless!
