Managing Your Tongue

One of the ways we differ from animals is our capacity to speak. Scientist and animal trainers have attempted to get monkeys to speak since the 17th century. Yet no chimpanzee has ever spoken. But I have several little monkeys, otherwise known as grandchildren, who talked before they walked.

We’re not the only ones that can make noises. Bird’s sing, pig’s grunt, and rodents squeak. The larger mammals have a wider repertoire of noises. They bark, moo, bleat, bray, roar, howl, growl, and many other sounds. They are rudimentary forms of communication. They use sounds to attract a mate in mating season, to announce a kill, or to warn an enemy from their territory. However, only humans can speak. We bear the image of God and He communicates to us by speaking.

The tongue is four inches long and weighs about 2 ounces. It is usually invisible and will be at this time unless you decide to be rude and stick your tongue out at me. It has several important functions. It helps digest our food. Our appetite is stimulated by the taste buds on our tongue. When you go to the doctor, he asks you to stick out your tongue. It reveals the condition of your health. It makes for a handy toothpick. Above all, it is the major organ of speech.

If you stick out your tongue and clamp it with your teeth, you will find that you are incapable of speaking. All you can offer is gibberish. One of the main reasons that animals can’t speak is that speech requires highly intricate muscular movement of the tongue. Animals simply don’t have the brainpower to pull it off (www.quodlibet.net, James Bohn).

The tip of the tongue is very sensitive to pressure and pain. I’m sure you already knew that. It is six times more sensitive than the back of the hand and 125 times more sensitive than the sole of the foot.

Though the tongue is small, the Bible warns us of the power of the tongue. James says its power is out of proportion to its size. A rudder is small compared to a ship, but you can guide that big ship across the oceans with the small rudder. A bit in a horse’s mouth is small, however, with it you can control this very powerful animal. A spark is small. It wasn’t that long ago that a million acres in Oklahoma burned and created a hay shortage for cattlemen across the state. Our tongue is small, but it has incredible potential for good or evil.

In Proverbs alone, there are over 100 verses pertaining to the use of the tongue. Proverbs is concerned with the wise use of the tongue. One of the principle lessons is the difference between the wise and foolish use of the tongue. Is the use of your tongue wise or foolish? How does a wise person use his tongue?

I. THE TONGUE OF THE WISE IS RESTRAINED.

The wise person knows the power of speech for good and evil. Therefore, they exercise restraint over the tongue. Ecclesiastes 3:7 says there is a time to speak and a time to be silent. The wise understand that there are times when we should hold our tongues. However, the fool is a constant talker. His words are rash and reckless. They tumble out of his mouth. They speak before they think whereas, the wise think before they speak.

You see this in Proverbs 15:28: The mind of the righteous person thinks before answering, but the mouth of the wicked blurts out evil things.

We all have an example where being impulsive led to mistakes and embarrassment. The wise person gives thought to his answer. He considers the words he uses, the tone of his voice, and the way he answers. He studies how to answer; but the fool is impulsive. He blurts out his answer before understanding the situation. The key to communication is understanding before answering. This requires listening and asking questions before giving a considered thought.

The words of the wicked reflect that his character and his advice are not for your good. His advice is contrary to the will of God. It is evil.

A father once told about the time his daughter turned sixteen. She began to treat her parents and siblings disrespectfully. She made lots of sarcastic comments and put-downs.

It came to a head one evening when she let fly some very inappropriate comments. Dad had had enough. “Little lady, let me tell you how life works in this house.” Then he went through a long list of reasons that he was sure would convince her to respect her parents. He mentioned all the things they’d done for her recent birthday. He talked about the dress they’d bought, the car she had the freedom to drive and the list went on and on. I don’t really have to paint this scene for you parents, do I?