The Problem of the Tongue

*Are your words a fountain of life or a fountain of death? That is, do you use your words in such a way that you build people up and speak life into them. Or, do you use your words in such a way that you hurt people?

*The fact is, it’s a little of both. Sometimes we do use our words in the best way. But other times, we do not. Perhaps that is just the way that it is, and we should just live with it.

*Yet, this can’t be acceptable to us, because it isn’t acceptable to God. Throughout the Bible, God teaches His people to use their words wisely and well. Specifically, we are told that

*Consider what Jesus had to say about the Tongue. Matthew 12:33-37. “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. Brood of vipers! How can you, 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 his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

*And in James 3:2-5. “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.”

*Again, today, we will focus exclusively on the teaching of Proverbs. Throughout the book, various themes are clear.

The Difference Between Righteous and Wicked Can Be Measured with the Tongue.

There are indeed many differences between the righteous and the unrighteous. But one major difference that is clear throughout the book of Proverbs is the difference between the two regarding their tongue. The righteous use it for good and please God. And the wicked use it for evil and are displeasing to God.

The General Comparison Made Throughout.

• Acceptability vs. Perversion. Proverbs 10:32. “The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.”
• Deliverance vs. Death. Proverbs 12:5-6. “The thoughts of the righteous are right, but the counsels of the wicked are deceitful. The words of the wicked are, “Lie in wait for blood,” But the mouth of the upright will deliver them.”
• Health vs. A Sword. Proverbs 12:17-18. “He who speaks truth declares righteousness, but a false witness, deceit. There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.”
• Knowledge vs. Foolishness. Proverbs 15:14. “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouth of fools feeds on foolishness.”
• Life vs. Death. Proverbs 18:21. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

The Good that the Tongue Can Bring.

The book of Proverbs is also very clear that the tongue can be used for good and for building people up.

• Well of Life. Proverbs 10:11. “The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.”
• Preserves Life. Proverbs 13:3 “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.”
• Pleasantness of Right Words. Proverbs 25:11. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear.”

The Bad that the Tongue Can Bring.

But the tongue can also be used for harm and evil.

• God Hates Perverse Mouth. Proverbs 8:13. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.”
• Mouth & Hypocrisy. Proverbs 11:9. “The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge, the righteous will be delivered.”
• Evil Lips Like a Burning Fire.Proverbs 16:27-30. “An ungodly man digs up evil, and it is on his lips like a burning fire. A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends. A violent man entices his neighbor, and leads him in a way that is not good. He winks his eye to devise perverse things; He purses his lips and brings about evil.”
• Words of a Talebearer. Proverbs 26:22-23. “The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles, and they go down into the inmost body. Fervent lips with a wicked heart are like earthenware covered with silver dross.”
• Flattery Ruins.Proverbs 26:28. “A lying tongue hates those who are crushed by it, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”
• Flattery Ruins.Proverbs 29:5. “A man who flatters his neighbor spreads a net for his feet.”

Wisdom is Only Found When We Guard our Tongue.

Wisdom is found in many things, but controlling the tongue is the highest mark of wisdom.

• Wisdom Evidenced by Controlled Tongue. Proverbs 4:5. “Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth.”
• Controlled Tongue Prevents Trouble. Proverbs 21:23. “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.”

God Instructs Us to Guard Our Tongue.

Because of these problems, God gives us clear instructions for the tongue.

We Are Instructed to Repent When We Sin With Our Mouth.

We all make mistakes. But it is important to handle it well when we do. Are you the kind of person that apologizes?

• Proverbs 6:2-3. “You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. So do this, my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend.”

We Are Instructed Not to Lie.

• Proverbs 4:24. “Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.”

We Are Instructed to Think Before We Speak.

• Proverbs 15:28. “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.”
• Proverbs 16:23. “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips. Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.”

We Are Instructed Not to Speak Evil.

• Proverbs 8:7. “For my mouth will speak truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

We Are Instructed to Be Careful in Our Venting.

• Proverbs 29:11. “A fool vents all his feelings but a wise man holds them back.”

We Are Instructed to Be Soft and Kind.

• Proverbs 15:1. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”

Application:

1. So how do you your words?
2. Do your patterns adhere to the teaching set forth in Proverbs?
3. Do you say that your sorry when you hurt people?