By Pastor Dave
Proverbs 13:3 (NASB) The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; the one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
James 3:6 (NASB) And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
One of the hardest things we struggle with is our mouth, our words. We speak words in anger, in frustration, in pain, and with no forethought. With our tongue we wound and hurt others, sometimes meaning to and sometimes just because we could not keep quiet. Often our own words condemn us. Others listen to us and think, “what a jerk” or “that person is an idiot” or “aren’t they full of them selves?” or they just chose to avoid us. Our words are powerful to build up or tear down. Our words can destroy friendships, cause fights, break up marriages, destroy businesses and destroy reputations. Once we speak them, we can not take them back no matter how we may regret it or no matter how we wish we could take them back. Once out, they are out.
We struggle with this because our words expose what is in our hearts. The Bible tells us that our hearts are wicked and that only through the blood of Christ, only through being born again, can we get control of our tongue. Only when we yield to the Holy Spirit working in us can we control our tongue. There is a saying, I do not remember who said it, but it says, “I have never regretted that which I never said.” We need to be slow to speak and quick to listen. And quick to listen to the Holy Spirit.
This may help you when you need to get control of your tongue (and we all do). These four steps will help you. When you want to say something work down this list:
- Is it true?
- Will it build up and be good for them?
- Does it need to be said?
- Is now the right time to say it?
Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you. I challenge you to master your tongue, with God’s help.