Taming the Tongue

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” (Proverbs 18: 21)

“Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones, But Names Will Never Hurt Me.” I am sure you’ve said or heard that little children’s rhyme. Is there any truth to it? There are countless lives that have been scarred by the choice morsels that have fallen from the lips of other people. Kids at school call children names that leave permanent scars. People never hear words of encouragement at home, or maybe even at church, and it causes low self-esteem and a feeling of isolation. Maybe the rhyme would be better stated: Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but they can soon be mended. Names and Words have hurt my feelings, and the damage never ended!!

Words do hurt, and the pain can linger for years. This verse from Proverbs hits home to every one of us. It is a verse that relates to everyone. None of us can say we do not have anything to learn in the realm of tongue management. I want you to allow God’s Word to teach and convict today. If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?

The power of speech is one of the greatest powers God has given us. With the tongue, man can praise God, pray, preach the Word, and lead the lost to Christ. What a privilege! Yet with that same tongue he can tell lies that could ruin a man’s reputation or break a person’s heart.

Remember these truths as you pray today:

· What you say and what you don’t say are both important.

· Before you speak, ask, “Is what I want to say true?” “Is it necessary?” “Is it kind?”

· It takes a child two years to learn to talk--it takes a man all his life to learn how to keep his mouth shut.

Derek