A Most Deadly Weapon

October 4, 2011 “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 15:4) In the day we live several countries have weapons that can destroy the earth and all life that is on it. All it would take is the punch of a few buttons and earth as we know it would be annihilated. We don’t know if or when this possibility might occur, so many live in constant fear of the unthinkable happening. We as Christians don’t have to live in any fear because, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, power and a well balanced mind that is disciplined and with self-control” (II Tim.1:7). We don’t have to fear something that is out of our control anyway, but trust that to our sovereign God. What we can control and we do need to fear is the deadliest organ in our body. This organ performs a most important biological function in our body but when it is misused it can destroy, but when used properly it can bring life and health. Have you guessed yet what that organ is? It is the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Life or death is in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it, for death or life.” Jesus said, “By your words you will be justified and acquitted; and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.” We offend in many ways but if anyone does not offend in speech, he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature (James 3:2). Verses 3-12 compare controlling the horse with a bit and a small rudder of a ship to that little organ in our mouths which is uncontrollable. It is called a “fire,” a world of wickedness. Every kind of beast, bird, reptile and sea animal can be tamed by human genius, but the human tongue can not be tamed by the genius of any man. It is a restless, undisciplined, irreconcilable evil, full of deadly poison. With that organ we bless the Lord and curse men who have been made in God’s likeness. These things ought not to be so. Can a fountain send forth, simultaneously, from the same opening fresh and bitter water? Just as a fig tree does not bear olives or a grapevine bear figs, neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water. The Psalms speak of the tongue as being a sharp sword (57:4). We are admonished not to sin with our tongue (39:1), and to keep our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit (34:13). The wicked one’s mouth is full of cursing, deceit, fraud; under his tongue are trouble and sin (10:7). One of the things required for a person to live in God’s presence is to not slander with his tongue (15:3). In (64:1-8) David ask for the Lord’s protection again his enemy from destroying him with venomous words like swords, they talked of laying snares; but God will make them to stumble and their own their own tongues will turn against them. The ninth Commandment says we are not to bear false witness against our neighbor. With our tongue we can exhibit our integrity by “speaking truly, dealing truly and living truly (Eph.4:15). We are told in I Peter 3:10 if we want to enjoy life and see good days that we are to keep our tongue free from evil and our lips from treachery or deceit. The old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me,” simply is not true. A child who grows up with condemnation will grow to feel guilty. A child who grows up with criticism will grow to fell worthless. A child who grows up with untrustworthy parents will grow to be untrusting. A child who grows up with angry parents will grow to be fearful and angry. But a child who grows up with parents who praises, loves, is patient, kind and one who keeps their word, will grow up to be a loving, confident, generous and with strong integrity. I think it was James Dobson who coined the term, “tough love.” The truth sometimes hurts but it can be healing if it is spoken in love (Eph. 4:15). Truth is easy to administer. Even someone with a cold heart can speak truth but it takes someone with a heart made tender by the love of God to speak in love. B. Crawford aptly put it, “Truth is utterly necessary to keep us from what is harmful, but it can turn people away if applied in a harsh manner. Christ is the only One who could apply both with perfect equanimity.” We should administer a lot of grace with our tongue to the guilty and innocent alike. Remember, Christ’s example – He loved the sinner but hated His sin. He spoke in truth about the sin but spoke in love about the sinner. Only the blood of Jesus applied to our hard, dirty hearts can change that hard, dirty organ in our mouth. Prayer, “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, my Strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). Help me to “lead every thought captive to the obedience of Jesus Christ (II Cor.10:5), so my negative thoughts will not contaminate my tongue to speak evil of any kind. Heal me from bad, past influences that would cause me to continue in the same sin toward others. Cleanse my heart, O God, make it more like Yours and when I speak, may I speak Your praises and speak as You would speak – always with love. Father, may I speak with words that come from a purified heart and mind. I pray this in the most precious and the sweetest name I know, Jesus Christ. Amen!