“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:7-8
Many of us grew up hearing the popular saying, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” The saying attempts to build us up by making us think words can’t hurt us, but rather than strengthening us, it causes us to stuff words deep down within us and carry them around for years because we don’t want to look weak by admitting that words do hurt.
As most of us have found out the hard way, it just isn’t true at all. In reality, we don’t find words harmless but rather experience them at times like deadly poison, killing hopes and dreams, tearing down confidence, and much more.
Still, even though some of us have felt the brunt of harsh words and know they can be destructive, many of us don’t really consider our tongues to be a threat, so it’s sobering to think they are capable of spewing such deadly poison.
As James 3:5 reminds us, “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”
In our culture today, it should be no surprise to any of us because we’re seeing the tongue being more and more destructive, leaving many individuals in ashes. If not convinced, just take a look at the media’s worldwide outreach and how current headlines, with just a few words, are setting powerful people's lives ablaze, leaving them smoldering in a way we haven’t seen before, robbing them of their positions, possessions, and posterity.
As well, online, individuals are making millions with their stinging words, seen by many as clever and entertaining rather than crippling and destructive. Like James 3:6 explains, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”
Still, it doesn’t have to be that way, like Smokey the Bear always reminded us, “Only you can prevent forest fires.”
Many people today do not understand the connection between our hearts and the words that come out of our mouths. Proverbs 4:23 encourages, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Old-school comedians like Don Rickles, Rodney Dangerfield, Joan Rivers, and more cashed in big-time, establishing careers and making a lucrative living by speaking degrading words that make fun of people.
Yet, maybe they didn’t realize that while they were putting people down with their so-called humor, they were revealing more about their own hearts than the faults of others. Jesus points out in Matthew 15:18, “But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”
Proverbs 18:21 describes how “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
As Christians, our words are to reveal our hearts in a way that honors God. Psalm 19:14 urges, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”
If we’re leading worship on Sunday mornings but then, by lunch, putting down others through our words, we need to reconsider what’s coming out of our mouths and refresh our hearts and minds with the truth found in James 3:9-12:
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
Let’s Pray:
Dear Father,
Lead me in studying Your Word and filling my heart with Your truth. Help me to let my words reflect a heart that pleases You and brings honor to Your name.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Photo Credit: ©GettyImages/MangoStar_Studio
Lynette Kittle is married with four daughters. She enjoys writing about faith, marriage, parenting, relationships, and life. Her writing has been published by Focus on the Family, Decision, Today’s Christian Woman, kirkcameron.com, Ungrind.org, StartMarriageRight.com, and more. She has a M.A. in Communication from Regent University and serves as associate producer for Soul Check TV.
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Originally published Thursday, 23 May 2024.
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