‘The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.’ Proverbs 18:21(NLT)
‘Wise words are like deep waters; wisdom flows from the wise like a bubbling brook.’ Proverbs 18:4(NLT)
‘Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.’ Proverbs 9:10(NLT)
‘But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. ‘ James 3:17(NLT)
Controlling the Tongue
‘Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
True Wisdom Comes from God
If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.’ James 3:1-18(NLT)
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”—Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)
By Lisa Supp
The Word of God is laced with wisdom about words and the power of the tongue. Yet, the verse for today has something interesting tucked inside of it. It says, “those who love it . . .” Love what? The tongue? Well, no. The “it” we are to love is wisdom.
We see this earlier in the chapter where it says, “The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters; the wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook” (Proverbs 18:4 NKJV). This means our words have a tendency to pour out like a flood of muddy water; but when used wisely, they can be like a refreshing spring. And good water equals good fruit.
This verse is highlighted in my Bible because I often struggle with knowing what to say in a given situation, and more importantly, knowing the right (wise) thing to say. Anxiety creeps in, and before I know it, I have what my mother calls “diarrhea of the mouth.” Forgive the colorful language, but it illustrates how language can muddy the waters of communication when not filled with wisdom and grace. And muddy water equals unpleasant fruit.
Take note, wisdom is not the same as knowledge. Case in point: Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. A person can know there is a God, but wisdom begins through the fear of God (Proverbs 9:10). Wisdom grows when we have a relationship with God and follow the commands of Christ. As we grow in grace through the daily watering of the Word, our faith is fertilized and our wisdom increases.
As ambassadors for Christ, we are compelled to use our words wisely. This is crucial in our marriages and families because we want to cultivate fruit (godliness). Perhaps that is why James, the brother of Jesus, had much to say about true wisdom and controlling the things we say. How much did a lifetime of being in the presence of Jesus influence his heart, flow through his words, and produce the invaluable wisdom and fruit of the Book of James? James shows us that wisdom from above is pure, gentle, peaceable, yielding, full of mercy and good fruits without partiality or hypocrisy (James 3:17). Ultimately, it is the wisdom and grace in the heart that puts a bridle on the tongue.
DIG: Read James chapter 3. What is the evidence of wisdom in a person’s life?
DISCOVER: Read one chapter from the Book of Proverbs each day. You’ll finish in a month. Note/circle/highlight how many times words and wisdom are referred to. How does the evidence of wisdom in a person’s life influence his or her communication?
DISPLAY: As you read these areas of Scripture, be prepared for the Holy Spirit to communicate with you. These impressions make room for growth. Pray for His guidance in each area and journal what you experience. You can later share with family and friends.
from Family Matters