Taming the Tongue: Speaking Death or Life



Words were spoken when God formed the earth, heavens, sun, moon, animals, plants etc....
Words are powerful.

The book of James tells us just how powerful they can be; how such a small, seemingly insignificant, thing can be destructive and defile the whole body and even on the course to hell with it's deadly poison.  
(Read the passage and reflect on the use of your own tongue)

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
James 3:1-12

Read vs 10 again (for that matter read the entire passage again and meditate on yourself), Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.  
And then it compares the mouth to a fountain sending out sweet and bitter water.  

A fountain that does that is not to be trusted and a mouth that does that is not to be trusted as it is a fountain of what's in the heart because Jesus tells us that the words coming out of our mouths are a product of what we have in our hearts.

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.  (Luke 6:45)


Notice that it says 'abundance'.  That means if your tongue spews forth that what it ought not, then you have an abundance of evil in your heart that you need to go to the Lord and ask Him to help you change.  When we repent and are born of the spirit of God (John 3:3) we receive a new heart and in that heart should be a struggle against the wickedness that is there and good fruit should win.  The words coming out of your mouth are fruit of who you are.  Not only do the specific words themselves count, but your attitude and action behind them reveal what's really there.  You can speak good words yet have a contentious, rebellious, haughty, self serving attitude that will turn those words to destruction.

And what comes out of the mouth defiles us...

Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. 
(Matthew 15:11)

The words a Christian uses should be edifying and bear witness and fruits of the spirit which are:
 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(Galatians 5:22-23)

If your words (or attitude behind the words) do not match the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5, then you are in sin. (Proverbs 21:23 says he who keeps his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from trouble.)
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (Ephesians 4:29)
Do your words minister grace?  Or do they slice and dice the listener.  (Even if there is nobody around to hear, God is listening.)

Let's read more warning on the tongue and the words that roll off it:
The tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. 
(Psalm 52:2)

A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. 
(Provebs 18:20-21)

A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. (Proverbs 15:1-2)

So let us kill our flesh and ask God to help us and keep watch over our lips (Psalm 131:3)  and Proverbs 17:28 says even a fool who keeps his mouth shut is considered wise.  

Words are the outward evidence of what's inside us and although we all have a wicked heart, fruits of the spirit will overcome that and our mouths should pour out that which is good, not evil.
You can be holy and godly on the outside having good works evident to those around you but if you do not control the tongue and you send out the gospel good news to others yet also send out cursing and evil from the same mouth, you will be a hypocrite; not having the fruits of the spirit.
Let us all take this as a serious lest we be a castaway as Paul warns:
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

So remember the next time you are ready to speak (whether it be good or evil) would you say it to or in front of our Savior?  
Please understand there is a time to call out false teachers, issue rebukes and defend God's Word in a bold manner and we see the example through Jesus and the Apostles.  The point of this article is to teach and remind us that in general our tongue should be controlled by the fruits of the spirit.

See an article on rebuking:
Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad. (Proverbs 12:25) 

Let us know if we can help you.
God be praised!

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