Taming The Tongue

Taming the tongue is a common and constant challenge. Unless our hearts are changed and purified and our minds are renewed, our mouth will continue to make a fool of us and wreak havoc.

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:26-27)

About the tongue: (James 3)

• Is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts
• Corrupts the whole person and sets the whole course of his life on fire
• All kinds of animals have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
• With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. This should not be!

A person's tongue is also likened to:

• When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
• A ship which is large and driven by strong winds, but steered by a very small rudder to wherever the pilot wants it to go.
• A small spark that sets a great forest on fire.

Taming the Tongue Prevents Painful Problems

How much trouble do people get into because they are not thinking about meaning, tone, and consequence before they speak. Look at the big picture. When you are at work, think about the type of reputation you want to have with your co-workers and supervisors. Complaining and having a "this is beneath me" attitude does not promote well. If you are Christian, you are not representing Christ well or living a set-apart kind of life.

When you are with your children, getting your way as a controlling parent does not set a positive, healthy example for your children. When you are with friends, gossiping and slandering ends healthy relationships and builds rotten ones.

With your significant other, it's easy to just spit out what's on your mind, but please don't. Stop and think about the best way and time to approach him/her. Being "right" and prideful does not yield a high enough return for paying such a high cost which is the vitality of the relationship itself.

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