A Powerful and Timeless Weapon: The Tongue

Have you been on Facebook or Twitter (or a similar site) recently?

If so, you no doubt witnessed the power of a weapon the Bible has warned about for thousands of years—the tongue. One angry post leads to dozens of harsh replies, which in turn stir up the wrath of hundreds of others who read the replies, and so it continues. Sound familiar?

In these tense times, it is more important than ever that we heed the timeless wisdom God has given us in the book of Proverbs, especially concerning the power of the tongue.

The Timeless Teaching of Proverbs

The purpose of Proverbs is to impart practical instruction in the skill of living. It is all about moral discernment in daily life (seeProverbs 1:2-5CloseProverbs 1:2-5 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,  to help them understand the insights of the wise. Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,  to help them do what is right, just, and fair. These proverbs will give insight to the simple,  knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.  Let those with understanding receive guidance OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). Even though Proverbs was written 3,000 years ago, its basic applications have not changed, because human nature has not changed.

Whether you’re struggling with a difficult moral decision or you simply want to know how to serve the Lord with your daily choices and actions, the book of Proverbs is an essential resource to consult.

A Matter of Life and Death

One of Proverbs’ most relevant teachings for today is its instruction on how we should use our words. In this age of fast and frequent communication (aided by technology) and explosive political issues, we have learned the hard way that the tongue is indeed “a restless evil and full of deadly poison” (James 3:8CloseJames 3:8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) NASB).

According to Proverbs, the power of the tongue cannot be mitigated. The only question is whether that power will be used for good or for evil, for peace or for war. Consider these passages:

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18CloseProverbs 12:18 Some people make cutting remarks,  but the words of the wise bring healing. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1CloseProverbs 15:1 A gentle answer deflects anger,  but harsh words make tempers flare. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

Death and life are in the power of the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21CloseProverbs 18:21 The tongue can bring death or life;  those who love to talk will reap the consequences. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) )

Words have great power. In fact, according to these passages, it is no exaggeration to say that words have the power of life and death.

Use Your Words Wisely

Do you remember a time when you were angry, but a friend’s kind response caused your anger to evaporate? How different would the outcome have been if your friend had answered harshly instead?

Your words, whether spoken in private to a friend or broadcast to the world on social media, have the power to wound or heal, to perpetuate anger or promote peace, to kill or revive a person’s spirit.

So, consider what effect your words may have in every circumstance. The best way to guard your words is to guard your heart, “for the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart” (Matthew 12:34CloseMatthew 12:34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). A humble heart will produce a gracious response, but a proud heart will breed a harsh reply.

But we don’t conjure up this humility or self-control on our own. Rather, it’s an attitude that requires the work of the Holy Spirit, producing the life of Christ in us and through us (seeGalatians 5:22-24CloseGalatians 5:22-24 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). It requires the imitation of Christ’s own meekness when He went to the cross (Philippians 2:3-11ClosePhilippians 2:3-11 Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God,*  he did not think of equality with God  as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges*;  he took the humble position of a slave*  and was born as a human being.When he appeared in human form,*   he humbled himself in obedience to God  and died a criminal's death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor  and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,  in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,  to the glory of God the Father. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ).

I encourage you, therefore, to meditate on—even memorize—the above verses the Holy Spirit inspired in Proverbs (12:18; 15:1; and 18:21). There’s a reason the book of Proverbs so often repeats the same ideas in different ways. It is not enough merely to hear and know the truth about the tongue (seeJames 1:19-26CloseJames 1:19-26 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger* does not produce the righteousness* God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don't forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) ). By the power of the Holy Spirit, we must constantly be reminded of these truths until they sink deep into our hearts and become part of who we are, so that, ultimately, God’s Word, not our sinful desires, shapes more and more of what comes out of our mouths.

Copyright © 2020 Ken Boa, used with permission.