Taming the tongue (Part One)

TRUTH FOR TODAY

by Jun Malazo 

Fire is a very interesting element.  People use it every day domestically and industrially.  Without the use of fire our lives would be left with many inconveniences.  Fire has the power to sustain life. 

Fire is used to turn much of the food we eat from raw matter into matter safe for consumption.  Fire is used to heat up our homes.  Without the use of fire, much research for technological advances would be an impossibility.

At the same time, fire also has the power to destroy.  A few years ago, a fire destroyed an entire town in northern Canada.  The fire left the town of Fort McMurray, Alberta devastated.  The total amount of property damage rose up to 10 billion dollars. 

The fire that lasted three months destroyed over 1.5 million acres of land and left many people homeless and businesses closed.  The most interesting fact about this large scale fire was that it was started when someone disposed of a cigarette out of their car window while driving through a forested area. 

Every fire starts with only a tiny spark, and yet, its potential for damage is unspeakable.  The Bible warns us about a tiny part of our body that, when left unbridled, can also leave us with devastating results.  Notice what the Bible says:

"Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.  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. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  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.  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:  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be."  (James 3:3-10)

James gives us a vivid description of the potential damage the tongue can do to our lives.  The tongue, though only a small member, has the power to control the entire body.  James used analogies of great things such as a horse and a ship to illustrate the power of a small member.  He continues by saying, “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things”  (v.5).  Just as a bit can control a powerful beast, and a small helm can turn a massive vessel; the tongue has the potential to influence the entire body.

Notice also that James describes the tongue as having the same power as fire when it comes to its potential damage.  Just as fire has the potential to both preserve and destroy life, so does the tongue.  The Bible says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof"  (Proverbs 18:21).  The word defileth used in verse 6 means to stain or to soil.  The tongue has the power to defile not only ourselves but also those around us. The Bible says, "Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles"  (Proverbs 21:23).  How often do people find themselves in deep trouble because they cannot control their tongues, and how many times have people’s lives have been destroyed because of someone’s unbridled tongue? 

James goes on to say, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (v.8).  I’m unsure of its source, but the following gives us a clear understanding of the danger of the unbridled tongue:

“I am more deadly than the screaming shell of the cannon.  I win without killing.  I tear down homes, break hearts, wreck lives.  I travel on the wings of the wind.  No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt me.  I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless.  My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea and often as innocent.  I never forget and seldom forgive.  My name is Gossip."
I personally know people whose lives have been destroyed because of the misuse of the tongue.  The fire that the tongue brings to our lives can bring devastation that lasts a lifetime.  Generations of relationships have been robbed of harmony, peace, and joy because of the unbridled use of the tongue.  I have seen churches destroyed with its pastors and leaders and their families the devastated victims of gossip.

You may be asking, “Why would God give us such a tool that has the potential to destroy ourselves and others around us?”  I would like to submit to you that this was not God’s original intention for the use of the tongue.  First of all, the purpose of the tongue is to bring glory and honor to God.  Notice just a few verses that describe the proper use of the tongue.

"Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day"  (Psalms 71:8).

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name"  (Hebrews 13:15).

"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer"  (Psalms 19:14).

James continues to say in the following verses:

"Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be."  (James 3:9-10)

It is a warning to those that use their tongues to sing praises and give honor to God not to use the same tongue to gossip about others.  The second purpose for the tongue is to edify others.  The word edify is used in the Bible which literally means to be a house builder.  The purpose of the tongue is to build and encourage others—not to destroy.  The Apostle Paul says, "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).  The Apostle Peter says, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:"  (1 Peter 3:10).

Lastly, the purpose of the tongue is to declare the greatness of God to the world.  If you are a true believer, God wants you to be a mouthpiece for Him.  To preach the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to a lost and dying world is the greatest use of our tongue.  The psalmist says, “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul"  (Psalms 66:16).  Elsewhere, another psalmist proclaims, “…I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations”  (Psalms 89:1).

The Bible gives us many descriptions of what our tongue can be when left unbridled.  It can be unloving (Proverbs 6:17).  It can be unrestrained (Proverbs 29:20).  It can be critical of others (Proverbs 12:18).  It can be a complaining tongue (Philippians 2:14).  It can be a proud tongue (Proverbs 25:14).  There are many other descriptions of what our tongues can be.  The truth of the matter is that all of us, including pastors and leaders, have been guilty of misusing our tongues.  We have all hurt others, whether intentionally or not, with our tongues.  The right thing to do is to make these things right with God and with those we have hurt.  It is not an easy task, but the Spirit of God will help those who are sincerely trying to make amends with others.

In closing, how do we control our tongues?  How do we control the unruly evil that seems to make its way out of our mouths?  What are some guidelines that we can practice everyday in our lives so that we can build others?  How do we use our tongues to bring glory and honor to God?  Next week, we will discuss how to filter our mouths using the Biblical principles found in Philippians 4:8.