CONTROL YOUR TONGUE By Pastor Scott Henry

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:13).

Most, if not all, of our problems relate to our tongue … our speech is one of the easiest ways to sin.  We cannot do just anything we want, but we sure can say just about anything.  Do you want to grow in your Christian life?  Practice putting a muzzle on your tongue.  “I said, I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me” (Psalm 39:1).  And we read in James 3:3: “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.” James says if we can control a horse’s tongue then we can direct the entire body of the horse to a useful purpose.  However, without the control of the tongue the horse is absolutely useless … it’s like a wild stallion running throughout the countryside trampling over everything it encounters.  In like manner, if we can control our tongue then our whole life can be directed to the noble purpose of glorifying God and edifying our neighbor.  But if we let our tongue run loose then our whole body will follow and we will bring dishonor to God, destruction to our neighbor, and shame to ourselves.  

According to Scripture, the tongue reveals the true person.  It’s an instrument that tells on the condition of a person’s heart.  The tongue is the dip stick of the heart, the tattletale, the barometer that displays a person’s spiritual condition.  Ultimately, a person speaks the way he does because of the state of his heart. Jesus said: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:45).  David described the tongue of the wicked in Psalm 52:2-4: “Your tongue devises destruction, like a sharp razor, working deceitfully.  You love evil more than good, lying rather than speaking righteousness.  Selah.  You love all devouring words, you deceitful tongue.”  Therefore, believers are admonished in Proverbs 4:23: “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”  True believers are those begotten by the Word of God (James 1:18), and James tells us that true, living, vibrant faith shows itself in the control of the tongue.  As the doctor would say, “stick out your tongue” and put the thermometer under your tongue for your physical temperature, so James says the tongue reveals your spiritual temperature or the condition of your heart.  As was said to Peter by those in the courtyard, “Your speech betrays you”, so one’s speech reveals a person’s true character since the issue of the tongue is ultimately an issue of the heart.  As the Puritans were fond of saying, “The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart.”         

Therefore, the question for each of us is this, are the words we speak consistent with the faith we confess?  Don’t be deceived … a faith that doesn’t transform the tongue is no saving faith.  James tells us, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless” (James 1:26).  How are you doing with the control of your tongue?  Do you say whatever pops into your head, or are you careful with the words you speak?  Paul wrote in Colossians 4:6: “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”  Jesus is the greatest example regarding the use of the tongue:  “So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth…” (Luke 4:22).

Begin each day by praying the words found in Job 6:24: “Teach me, and I will hold my tongue; cause me to understand wherein I have erred.”  And remember, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19).  May the Lord bless His people as we strive to bridle our tongue by the power of the Holy Spirit in order that “…no corrupt word proceeds out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29).  All to the glory, honor, and praise of Jesus Christ!