The Problem of the Tongue

“I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 1 was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred. My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue.” Psalm 39:1-3.

What do your suppose David said? What do you say when you feel you must say something?
The ideas that other people sometimes express are bad enough to have to listen to; but the words that we say ourselves react the most painfully upon our own mind and character. I have much to repent of along these lines.

When I was a child, I usually had little to say, even in my teen and young adulthood, I was habitually silent; but since becoming a Christian my tongue has been loosed, often to my great dismay. What a difficult instrument to learn how to play properly!!

“if any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.” “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 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. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.” James 1:26; 3:1-3.

I’ve bridled several horses, and ridden them, or led them about. Now I must learn to bridle my tongue. Some dear person I know, one in particular, has learned the lesson of bridling her tongue.

Even the lines around her mouth show the repeated wars fought and won over the tongue.
“Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small helm, wherever the governor lists. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things. Look, how great a matter a little fire kindles!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” James 3:4-6. Have you ever noticed how what we swallow affects how fast our tongues run?

Alcohol is often noticeable in this respect, as is rich food. Take notice the next time you are at a gathering where food is served.

Can we actually tame our own tongues?
“For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed of mankind: but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:7,8.

I guess not!
“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we man, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. “Does a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh?” James 3:9-12.

What is the solution then?
“Do ye think that the scripture says in vain, the spirit that dwells in us lusts to envy? But HE GIVES MORE GRACE.
Wherefore He says, God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the LORD, and He shall lift you up.” James 4:5-10.

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if you bite and devour one another, take heed that you be not consumed one of another. This I say then, WALK IN THE SPIRIT, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:14-16.

“Marvel not that I say unto thee, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.” John 3:7.
Do you think we would actually say bad things about our own brethren? “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaks evil of his brother, and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law, and judges the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, Who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judges another?” James 4:11, 12.

In view of these things, it seems best for us to pray continually: “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.” Psalm 141:3.

“Wherefore I say unto you, all manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: But the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. And whosoever speaks a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaks against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the world to come. Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall given account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified and by thy word thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:31-37.
AMEN

Sister Kathleen Ross
Alberta, Canada