(Proverbs 18:21;
italics mine). Nick Young counted some twenty
positive things in the Scriptures that the tongue
can do, and twenty negative things. A great ruler
once sent a gift of meat, the carcass of an animal,
to a philosopher with the request that the philosopher
send back the best part and the worst
part of the gift. The philosopher fulfilled both
requests with a single gift. He returned the tongue
of the animal. The poet expressed this double
potential this way:
A careless word may kindle strife;
A cruel word may wreck a life;
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite or kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day;
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.
There is no way to overemphasize the power
of words. The judge speaks a few words and a
man.s entire life is altered. The President speaks
a few words to influential men and the fate of a
nation is changed. A preacher, a teacher, and a
parent speak a few words and eternity is affected!
To continue this thought further, we must
strive to control our tongues. . . .
C. THE DIFFICULTY OF TAMING THE TONGUE... (7-12)
1. Despite being able to tame wild animals, man is unable to tame the tongue!
Or, on the positive
side, we might think of the words of Churchill
which strengthened a nation and inspired the
world.
