Some choice thoughts about the Tongue:
About Abrasive Speech
Many a blunt word has a sharp edge.
Keep your words soft and sweet; you never know when you may have to eat them.
About Gossip
Gossip is like soap -- mostly lye!
A gossip is just a fool with a keen sense of rumor.
About Profanity
Profanity is a public announcement of stupidity.
Swearing is a lax man’s way of trying to be emphatic.
About telling the Truth
A lie is a coward’s way of getting out of trouble.
Truth is as clear as a bell, but it isn’t always tolled.
About Boasting
When you sing your own praise, you always get the tune too high.
Don’t brag; it isn’t the whistle that pulls the train.
For in many things we stumble. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. James 3:2
Our Daily Bread.
What are we talking about?
Conspiracy, Falsehood, False Witness, Persecution, Speaking; evil, Talebearer.
We as true believers in Christ are to speak no evil of any person.
Wow…can you state this today?
We are not to slander, verbally abuse or tear down people.
God’s ideal for society is one where all citizens work to build up and enrich the lives of each other and our communities and nation.
If a person, ruler or citizen, is working to build us up, why would we speak evil of them?
In this world in which we live, we know we live in an evil world where many are selfish and greedy, and others commit terrible and atrocious acts. This causes chaos in society.
We are directed not to speak evil against anyone, not even an evil ruler.
You see to reach evil people in need of Jesus’ “Good News” we cannot curse, revile, slander, criticize, or otherwise tear them down. Verbal abuse only causes more evil—and quite possibly active retaliation.
The only “real” answer to reaching a lost person is to reach out in kindness, trying to lead them through Christ to a changed life in which they too live the way they should as a contributing citizen to the community.
We may be required to use firm, strong, and warning words.
We are never to give license to sin and evil, nor to indulge the selfish and sinful acts of people.
We speak with the authority and strength of scripture against evil and untruth.
We warn our communities of the evil of this age and of the word of God in all things.
The point is this: there is no place as a Christian in society for us to speak evil against each other.
Evil speech is not the way to help those in rebellion against God, government, or man.
Think of yourself, could this have won you to Christ???
We must reach out with kindness; and then if kindness fails, to reach out with strong, authoritative warnings from scripture—and then back up the warning with love.
There is no place in our lives for evil speaking.
We are to take the lead in speaking kind and strong words, words that warn against selfish and evil behavior.
What an indictment against society! Even more, what a terrible indictment against those who speak evil against others within the church!
“Whoso privily [secretly] slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off: him that hath a high look and a proud heart will not I suffer” (Psalm 101:5).
“He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool” (Proverbs 10:18).
“A hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour: but through knowledge shall the just be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9).
“Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in thy brother: for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slander” (Jeremiah 9:4).
Additional Scriptural references:
Job 13:5 Oh that ye would altogether hold your peace! and it should be your wisdom.
Job 16:3-4 Shall vain words have an end? or what emboldeneth thee that thou answerest? [4] I also could speak as ye do: if your soul were in my soul’s stead, I could heap up words against you, and shake mine head at you.
Job 38:2 Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?
Proverbs 10:14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
Proverbs 12:23 A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.
Proverbs 13:3 He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 14:3 In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.
Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.
Proverbs 15:14 The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness.
Proverbs 18:6-7 A fool’s lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. [7] A fool’s mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.
Proverbs 18:13 He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
Proverbs 26:4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest thou also be like unto him.
Proverbs 26:7 The legs of the lame are not equal: so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 26:9 As a thorn goeth up into the hand of a drunkard, so is a parable in the mouth of fools.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.
Proverbs 29:20 Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him.
Proverbs 30:10 Accuse not a servant unto his master, lest he curse thee, and thou be found guilty.
Eccles. 5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice is known by multitude of words.
Eccles. 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
Eccles. 10:13-14 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness. [14] A fool also is full of words: a man cannot tell what shall be; and what shall be after him, who can tell him?
Matthew 12:36-37 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. [37] For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Ephes. 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
God’s word tells that we are to be known for our gentleness, meekness and comfort instead of the evil speaking of our tongues.
Let us do no less…
