I was watching ESPN the other day and they were talking about a basketball player a while back when he first joined the team and became the team captain. During an interview he was getting all excited and said that he wasn’t there to make lots of money, he just wanted to play ball and turn this team 360 degrees around. Oh how people say stupid things!
I have been there, where I have said foolish things! I say dumb things a lot, ask my wife (no don’t really, I was just kidding, she will give you a list the length of my whole body). We can get like that, caught up in the moment and let our tongues get the best of us. Remember the children’s song?
“Be careful little mouths what you say; for the Father up above is looking down with love so be careful little mouths what you say.”
Listen to what James has to say about the tongue:
“This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and blessings out of the same mouth!”
“My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?” (James 3:9-12 The Message)
We have to watch what we say, not only to practice one of the greatest fruits of the Spirit, self control which is my toughest challenge, but to protect our witness. Now does that give us a license to be fake? Not at all. Don’t “put on Jesus” when you come to church, or when you are around other believers, it’s a change in the heart. The heart and the mouth are deeply connected. In fact it says in Romans “Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and you will be saved.”
What do we gain by keeping a tamed tongue besides the self control? Wisdom, trust from others, and healing.
Proverbs 10:19 says “When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise”
Proverbs 12:17-18 says “A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
One who has gained a tamed tongue may be considered a maker of peace and Jesus said “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall inherit the kingdom of Heaven.”
So what can we do with all of this? No one can have a perfect tongue; Christ was it, the only man ever. We are to strive for a tame and holy tongue that honors our Lord, to exalt His Holy name with praises, not to curse our brother with a wicked heart. Let these Scriptures guide you to taking a second, third or even a fourth look at what you say before you say it, does is honor God?
May 7, 2008 at 4:57 am |
This is a very good word Cole. I rarely have regretted holding my tongue. I have, however, regetted many words I have spoken.
The old adage applies to your blog: God gave us two ears and one mouth. There ought to be twice as much listening as there is talking.
Well written too son…dad
May 9, 2008 at 5:45 am |
my ha
arrest thing is watching what I say in my head as well as aloud.