Begin with two minutes of silence and stillness before God.
Can you think of a time someone said something encouraging to you that helped you through a difficult time?
Can you think of a time someone said something hurtful to you that had a lasting impact on you?
I’m sure you can quickly recall several instances as answers to each of these questions - no matter who said them or how long ago they were said, we know for a fact that words have immense power in our lives. The power of the tongue and the words we wield are addressed several times throughout Scripture:
“The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” Proverbs 21:23
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29
“For whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.” I Peter 3:10
James chapter 3 has a great deal to say about the power of the tongue. Take a moment to read James 3:1-12. There are several things we learn about the tongue in this passage. The tongue is compared in this passage to several things: the small bit that guides a horse and the rudder that controls the direction of a great ship. It is compared to a spark that sets ablaze a forest! In these metaphors, we see that the tongue, though seemingly small or insignificant, has the power to control and destroy.
Verses 9 and 10 describe the hypocritical nature of our tongue - the way we use it to both bless and curse. I’m not sure about you, but I definitely know I’ve struggled with controlling this part of the power of the tongue. One moment, I am saying things that are true and praiseworthy, and next, I am saying things that are destructive and despicable. Any duplicity in our hearts that is inconsistent with a life redeemed by God is revealed through our mouths. As followers of Christ, we must begin to master our tongues and engage in speech that is consistent with our relationship with Christ. But verse 8 tells us that “no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” YIKES. How are we supposed to take control of our tongues when it’s humanly impossible?
Read James 3:13-18. We cannot rely on our own strength and power to master our tongue; we have to rely on the wisdom of Christ! Our earthly wisdom compels us to live from a place of bitterness, jealousy, and selfishness, leading us to say things that are boastful or untrue, and ultimately reaping great dissension and sinfulness. But Godly wisdom is “first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere” (verse 18) and creates a harvest of peace!
The way we use our tongues and the words we say give evidence of the wisdom that governs our hearts. When we do not hand over control of our hearts to Christ, we cannot control our tongue, and from it come all sorts of earthly and evil things. However, when we surrender completely to Christ and allow our speech to be an overflow of what He is doing in our hearts, it creates purity and peace that is evidence of who He is.
Take two minutes to reflect in silence.