Proverbs 14 – 22

God’s word contains a whole lot of words about our words. I wonder why? With yet another cliché, we try to encourage our kids to see the mean things people say as empty … “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me”. The problem is, words hurt. Words are dangerous. Conversely, words are the source of great comfort, praise and wisdom. When folks stumble to get thoughts out, we sarcastically say “Use your words”. Maybe we should all listen to the advice of Wisdom to use our words carefully.

If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

James 3:3-12

In the book of Proverbs, we find the words of the wise and the words of fools, the words of the faith-filled and the words of scoffers. Some words are lies, while others are truth. Some build up with encouraging words while others tear down with discouragement. If only it were possible to tell which team each person is on. Better re-read the passage from James – all of those words can come from the same person. Each of us plays on BOTH teams.

Understanding the problem is the first step toward a solution. Jesus teaches us that thoughts originate in the heart and flow out through the tongue. The book of Proverbs deals with the heart, the mind and the tongue. The reality of life is that we get some things right and other things wrong. We are in training. Hopefully, we are improving. Each step along the way, Yahweh is there with us to guide us, rebuke us, teach us and forgive us.

We need to recognize the uniqueness of the tongue in all of this. Our thinking is wide open to God who knows all, but we must reveal our thoughts to other people for them to know. Our hearts are wide open to God who looks there to know what we are truly all about, but others only know when we express ourselves. Once a word is spoken, it is out there and the thoughts and/or deceptions of our hearts cannot be recaptured. So, God wants us to transform our thinking to His ways, conform our hearts to His example and speak deliberately and carefully. Otherwise, we will spend a lifetime speaking out of both sides of our mouth.

Consider His nature.  Consider His ways.  Strive to love Him more!