Taming the Tongue

Ah yes, taming the tongue; one of the many challenges in our Christian walk, isn’t it? I am not sitting in judgement at all; I am guilty as charged.

James 3:8-10 tells us, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

How many times have we said something in the moment and as soon as it crossed our lips, we wish we hadn’t said it? Maybe some of us aren’t remorseful for the those harsh words spoken. We want those words to hurt. Ouch! Imagine now, that other people around you saw how you conducted yourself and heard the things you said. Do you think they are going to be rushing into the church to be like us? Do you think the person on the other end of your tongue-lashing wants anything to do with Christianity if they aren’t already a believer? Sometimes, the most detrimental thing to Christianity is Christians. Aren’t we supposed to be spreading the gospel and growing the Kingdom for His glory?

Luke 6:45 says, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”

So, if out of the abundance of the heart our mouth speaks and we are using words to hurt others, what does that say about the condition of our hearts?

This is not sounding good so far, but God always give us hope for the struggles He knew we would have on this earth. The Word of God has some great advice for us if we just seek it out.  

James 1:19 says, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”.

We have the ability to lift someone up and breathe life into them with our words or beat them down with our words. And blowing out someone else’s candle doesn’t make yours burn brighter. I believe, as Christ followers, that He is disappointed in us when we use our words to hurt others. I believe, based on scripture that He wants us to speak life and kindness and gentleness into other people’s lives. That’s why He gave us the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and guide us as we walk through this life and all its challenges.

Romans 8:5-11 says, “For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

I think my prayer needs to be for God to work on the condition of my heart, let me be quick to listen and slow to speak, let me speak life into those around me. Make me kind and gentle. I know that He answers prayers and I have hope that this challenge can be overcome, like so many others. We can only do it with His help. We cannot do it on our own. With God all things are possible.

There are many things you can’t take back; the rock once it’s thrown, the time after it’s gone and your words once they are spoken.

Let’s use our words in a way that honor God.

 

*Amy de Graaff is the Listener Engagement Specialist with The JOY FM. She and her husband reside in Newnan. She is a child of God, animal lover and adventure seeker. You can reach her at: [email protected]