Today’s Bible Reading: Proverbs 13-15
by Bill Hood | July 17, 2010 | In Daily Reading | Comments Off
Guard Your Tongue
Proverbs 13-15
Yesterday I wrote about the importance of guarding our tongues. Today I’m going to write about the importance of guarding our tongues. Boring right? I went over this already? Why repeat myself? Well, I read today’s passages and guess what; God’s Word goes over the issue of what comes out of our mouth several more times. For example:
Proverbs 13:3
“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life;
he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”Proverbs 14:3
“By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back,
but the lips of the wise will preserve them.”Proverbs 15:2
“The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouths of fools pour out folly.”
Why would God repeat this warning so frequently? I suggest it is because the issue is extremely important. Did you ever think of guarding your tongue as an important issue? No? I have been guilty of using my words carelessly. Words have meaning and they are powerful. They can cut deep and their wounds often do not heal. At the very least hurtful words leave red, irritated scars. Even more importantly what pours out of our mouth is an indication of what is in our hearts. Don’t take my word for it.
Matthew 12:34-37
“You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Did you catch that? By your words you will be justified or condemned. Now do you understand the importance of guarding of our tongue? If you don’t care enough about others to guard your tongue then care about the recording that is going to playback as you stand before your Maker on Judgment Day. I want to get a clip of that robot from the TV show “Lost in Space” flailing his dryer hose arms, scrambling to and fro blaring his trademark phrase “Warning Will Robinson! Warning!!!” That is what God is doing here through the Proverbs.
He is warning you to watch your mouth. Get a handle on your tongue. Do you remember that children’s chant used as a rebuff to those that called names? “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me!” Do you remember that? Baloney isn’t it. Not only does what we say hurt, it can hurt more, and for far longer, than sticks and stones, but it hurts the abused and the abuser both. Actually, from the long view, our words can hurt us more than any hurt we inflict on others since the impact on us is eternal.
Seriously, think about the things you have said to your wife or children when you were angry. Now think about standing before God as those words are played back to you. If you’re feeling a little uncomfortable now, just wait until then. If you don’t feel uncomfortable now, I want to meet you because you either have Jesus on a plane I have not yet seen in others or you desperately need Jesus, for you feel no remorse.
It all starts in our heart; with our attitude. Put a lock on your tongue until you can get your heart right. Even then, put a bit between your teeth and keep a strong hand on the reigns. This is eternally important. Let us not be careless with our words!
Have a tongue guarded day!
Your brother and servant in Christ,
Bill
