It is amazing what the tongue can do. With it we are able to enjoy the food we eat and distinguish between bad and enjoyable tastes. We can tell the difference between the sweetness of a strawberry and the sourness of spoiled milk. We can also taste the subtleties of the various flavors put into a mouse. Yes God made an amazing tool when He made the tongue.
It is also amazing what mankind has discovered he can do to it. They pierce it. Well I just leave it at piercing. That seems odd enough for me.
The things that they can do with their tongue is pretty amazing from folding it to touching their nose to what this man did.
Yuck is all I can say! That’s not my idea of a kiss! But whatever.
But this most amazing instrument also has the ability bring forth wisdom or folly as mentioned in Proverbs 10. The Bible commends those who are wise with their tongue but condemns those who are not, calling them a fool.
It is so easy to be unwise. A little slip here and before I know it I’m gossiping, I’m sure your familiar with the problem. A car cuts you off and in an instant you’re calling them a fool or worse. Maybe you’re tired and have a headache when you come home so your curt with the ones you love.
What wisdom does the Bible have to say to strive for?
“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.” Proverbs 10:18
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongue.” Proverbs 10:19
“The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.” Proverbs 10:20
“The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.” Proverbs 10:21
How might we tame such a wild beast you may ask? That only comes through the help of the Holy Spirit. We have been given the fruit of the Spirit which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control, against such there is no law. All we have to do is to mature in the fruit.
As the fruit of the tree depend on the tree to give it life and let the fruit mature to ripening so we must depend on the Holy Spirit until that day when we are called to Heaven and then the maturing or ripening will be done.
I’m not saying that it is easy to hold your tongue and change old behaviors but it is possible and it is vital to your Christian walk. If we are to shine God’s glory our words must be in accordance with His Word.
Joy – A Woman After God’s Own Heart
Joy's Words of Encouragement 