Taming My Tongue

One thing I have come to learn is this: that wisdom is not so much expressed in that which you say wisely, but in that which you wisely don’t say.  For me it seems as though, the less I speak, the better off I am. One of the areas I have struggled with in my Christian walk has been in taming the tongue. James warns of the dangers of an untamed tongue (James 3) and so today I want to encourage you with some things I’ve learned in my years of attempting to tame my tongue. We find in Matthew 12:36-37 “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” The issue of a tame tongue is obviously one of import in our discipleship to the only Wise God.

What are some characteristics of a wild tongue?

The primary characteric of an untamed tongue is its use as a weapon to destroy others or to glorify self. Examples include: gossip, flattery (is the motive selfish or is it pure. i.e. encouragment), boasting, lying, self-defending, profanity, coarse jesting, slander, interrupting, complaining, murmuring, grumbling, contentiousness, etc.

What are some characteristics of a tamed tongue?

The primary characteristic of a tamed tongue is its use as an instrument to edify and build-up others or to glorify God. Examples include: comfort, encouragement, teaching, rebuking, peacemaking, repentance, praise, guidance, etc.

Other components of a tamed tongue include:

1. spiritual health: Luke 6:45 45 “The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.
2. prayer Psalm 19:14 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.
3. thoughtfulness Psalm 39:1 “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth as with a muzzle While the wicked are in my presence.” 
4. moderation Proverbs 10:19 19 When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
5. patience James 1:19 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;

What I have come to believe is that before a word is spoken it should pass by what Albert Martin called the four sentries 1. Truth 2. Love 3. Wisdom/apporpriate 4. Necessity

My hope, therefore, is that the ethos, pathos, and logos of this blog wil be edifying to you and glorifying to God.

Soli Deo Gloria