Watch Your Tongue

Some individuals carry instruments of life and death with them as a matter of routine requirement.  For example, policemen wear loaded guns and physicians carry powerful drugs.  These individuals have to feel a keen sense of responsibility.  Certainly such powerful instruments should never be put into the hands of foolish, immature, or irresponsible persons.  The Word of God teaches that:  “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”             (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV).  The tongue of man is capable of great good or great harm if used improperly. 

The wise man Solomon said that the tongue and the ability to speak is a great blessing from God. “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life…A man has joy in the answer of his mouth: and a word at the right time, how good it is  (Proverbs 15:4-23 NKJV).  A thoughtful and kind tongue can encourage the weak and exhort the wayward.  It can give life.

 The tongue of man is also capable of great harm.  The tongue is a fire; it is the power of evil placed in our bodies, making all the body unclean, putting the wheel of life on fire, and getting its fire from hell. For every sort of beast and bird and every living thing on earth and in the sea has been controlled by man and is under his authority; But the tongue may not be controlled by man; it is an unresting evil, it is full of the poison of death (James 3:6-8 BBE).

This passage asserts that an individual who can control his tongue – the most unruly part of his body – can control his entire body.  The absolute necessity of having control over one’s tongue is emphasized when we see the danger and harm of a tongue out of control: 1) a fire; 2) evil making the whole body unclean; 3) deadly poison.  A foolish or malicious tongue can destroy personalities and reputations.  It can destroy friendships and relationships.  It can kill! 

Every one of us carries and wields this powerful instrument every day.  We all should feel a keen sense of responsibility for the proper use of our tongues as the policeman does for the use of his gun or the physician for the use of his power medications.  The control of the tongue is a serious matter; our eternal destiny will depend upon the proper use of our tongue. "I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned"     (Matthew 12:36-37 NKJV). 

Let us consider God’s formula for the successful use of our tongue.  “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29 NKJV). First, if we can not say something good then say nothing at all.  Second, our speech should build up (edification) or strengthen the hearer.  We should use our tongue to encourage others.  Think of words of encouragement, kindness, appreciation, and sympathy.  These can change a person’s life.  Our speech should always instruct, counsel, comfort, and promote intelligence and purity (impart grace).  The person whose aim in life is to benefit others will not be as likely to say that which he will have occasion to regret later.  Make sure that your speech is always an influence for good.