“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).
The easiest way for a person to sin is with the tongue. The restraining laws in our society prevent us from doing just anything we want, but it sure seems as if we can say anything we want. Man, because of his fallen, depraved heart, is prone to spew forth all manner of blasphemy and putrid language from his mouth, which produces a myriad of troubles for his soul. The Apostle Paul described man’s tongue in Romans 3:13-14 with these words: “Their throat is an open tomb; with their tongues they have practiced deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips; whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” Even those redeemed by Christ struggle to govern their vicious tongue. How many wars have been started because of a prideful, arrogant, rebellious tongue? How many couples have divorced because of a lying tongue? How many friends have been separated because of a gossiping tongue? How many times a day is God’s holy name or the name of the glorious Redeemer, Jesus the Christ, taken in vain, blasphemed, or used in an offhanded joke?
And make no mistake about it, the real problem with the tongue is the disposition of the heart. You see, the heart of every matter is the matter of the heart. As Jesus said, “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:21-23). And Solomon wrote the following words: “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips” (Proverbs 16:23). “The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is worth little” (Proverbs 10:20). “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil” (Proverbs 15:28). Notice how closely knit together are the heart and the tongue. In other words, the condition of one’s heart is seen most clearly by the words one speaks. As Jesus said, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man” (Matthew 15:18).
Therefore, before you speak, remember the words of Christ, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment” (Matthew 12:36). As those who are redeemed by Christ, let us daily practice restraining our tongue, the ‘little member of our body that boasts great things’ (James 3:5). We do this by constantly and conscientiously speaking true, kind, edifying, gracious, and loving words, which honor God, and also by keeping our mouth shut when it’s not absolutely necessary to repeat a matter. Too many matters are repeated again and again that would better be left untold since they bring no edification to the hearer. “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:6). And we read in Proverbs 15:4: “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Only by guarding our tongue will we keep our soul from unnecessary troubles. “Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psalm 34:11-12).