by David Brenneman
"But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:36-37.
"Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." Ephesians 4:29-32.
"The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin." Proverbs 13:3.
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly." Proverbs 15:1-2.
"He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles." Proverbs 21:23.
"Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity. Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:5-6.
"This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless." James 1:19-26.
What shall we say? There's probably much more than these passages that are to point out the necessity of guarding our mouths.
Careless words spoken without thought are all being recorded and will be known again.
There's probably never been a generation of children attending school that didn't have a few if not many who showed the utter truth to much of these passages. How harsh and cruel children can be towards one another. I can personally testify to this. I was the subject of many who thought I made a better target than a friend.
Mark Wills had a solid song out long ago called "Don't Laugh at Me". Mark is one of my favorite country music artists. I can remember vividly the day I first heard that song on my car radio. I can remember that the tears hit me so hard I almost ran off the road. Finally a song that I fully related to.
Words...the power of the unbridled tongue. Oh how mankind has completely proven the Word of God with respect to how mankind has taken what's come from a tongue and caused destruction beyond whatever was thought possible.
"But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh." James 3:8-12.
Right here we see God's view on the tongue.
I have known and probably will known even more that take the Lord's Name in vain. None really consider it at all how every single instance will be brought back with utter clarity at the Final Judgment.
Even those whom are Believers will find their words, thoughts, intentions and actions tested as though by fire.
The more I know of what the Bible says about the tongue the more I do realize the importance of setting my mind on the things that are above and not on the things that are of this world. The more that my my mind aims to love the Lord my God with all my heart, mind, soul and spirit. The more I love my neighbor as myself. The more that I live out forgiveness as Jesus forgave. The more that Christ lives in me the more my tongue is less of a problem.
My Dear Reader you can't go back and take back words you've spoken in error but going forward you can remember these passages and look up the others that get to the heart of it all.
Deeds of the tongue are absolutely linked to why we should never allow the sun to go down on our anger. Of the truth that this gives the devil an opportunity. We play right into giving way to sin. It's not temptation at all when we rush headlong into it without thought.
"Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:6. Grace...that unmerited, undeserved, treatment of others.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
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