Power Of The Tongue Series

The power of the tongue

Prov. 10:11-22

The mouths of those who do right are a fountain of life. But the trouble caused by what sinners say destroys them. Prov. 10:11.

Later on in Proverbs Solomon said, “The tongue has the power of life and death” (18:21). The old adage, “Sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” may have applied to the playground, but it does not apply to real life. Our words can build up or tear down, so we must choose them wisely.

Like Solomon, James had a great deal to say about the tongue and it’s use. His focus was not on what your words can do to others, but rather on what they say about you. James said that the words that come out of your mouth are in indication of the condition of your heart (see Luke 6:43-45). No doubt James applied Jesus’ teaching and he incorporated it into his own writings. In the first chapter of his letter James said, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless” (1:26 NLT).

That statement set the stage and in the third chapter he provided more detail. In chapter three he said, “… If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life. A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything – or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell” (James 3:2-6 MSG).

Just as the small bit controls the direction of a big horse and the tiny rudder controls is used to steer an enormous ship, our tongue dictates the course of our lives. If you read James’ entire letter you will realize that he is teaching about spiritual maturity. His aim is that we all grow in Christ. He emphasizes the fact that our walk with God should not be void of works. He teaches that faith without works is a dead faith (see 2:18-26); but he also makes it clear that the true test of spiritual maturity is not in outwards actions, but rather in inward control. The fight of inward control is won or lost with a two-inch piece of flesh – our tongue. Just like a carefully placed word can turn a seemingly hopeless situation around, a carelessly placed word can start a fire that you may not be able to put out.

Simply put, it means you should watch your mouth. Your mouth can either become a fountain from which blessing, promises, and righteousness flow or it can become the vehicle through which destruction and defeat are ushered into your life. If you can control your tongue, you can control your life. However, to control your tongue you will need the help of the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to help you to protect what goes through your eye gates (what you see) and your ear gates (what you hear). What goes through your eyes and ears eventually gets down into the soil of your heart. Your heart germinates what you sow into it and the harvest comes out of your mouth. Protect your heart and you will protect your mouth. Protect your mouth and you will protect your life!

Hate stirs up fights. But love erases all sins by forgiving them- Prov. 10:12 NIV.

At first glance this text seems like a clear-cut comparison between love and hate – and ultimately, it does compare the two – but the real comparison Solomon is making is in the area of one’s response to evil. He is highlighting the fact that as believers we should respond to the evil done wrong to us in a different way than the world. Love was the central theme of many of Jesus’ messages and He, more than anyone, taught us (by precept and example) how to respond to evil. It is too easy to repay evil with evil, but when you are able to repay evil with good, that’s when you know that God has wrought a change in your life.

As believers we should not walk around with a root of bitterness, but rather with the oil of joy – quick to forgive, to let go, and to move on!