"He who guards his lips, guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin."
Proverbs 13:3 NIV
The ability to guard the tongue is one of the clearest marks of wisdom. The tongue has the power of life and death (18:21); therefore it is so easy to allow a harsh word to be spoken - one that will kill any trust or friendship in a second. So therefore, one has to take and keep control, over the tongue. This takes discipline.
I read a quotation of Bob Gass' recently that I felt rather apt: 'If God gave you a pound for each kind word you said and took away a pound for each unkind word you said, would you be healthy or poor?' This really is food for thought. How many times would we be bankrupt because of the words we uttered each day? When we are faced with such an anecdote as this, it not only challenges us but can also bring blessing or conviction.
James writes: "no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who have been made in God's likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing" James 3:8-10 NIV. Tony Evans says, 'We have seals that clap, dolphins that talk, birds that flip and dogs that jump through hoops. But the only successful tongue-tamer is God. You need to be filled with scripture and the Holy Spirit.' Tony Evans Study Bible
If you have been trying to tame your tongue, you are on an impossible road, Only Jesus can help here. But, it takes discipline. There is not a chance that a few short prayers can change this. It is probably a life-times work. Each day, as you come to God in your quiet time, you need to be blessed with the power to overcome this. I suppose, it can can be similar to an addiction, you can get so used to saying unkind things about someone, criticising and judging them that, it just becomes second nature. Don't let it be because, one day we will all have to give an account to God as we stand before Him.
So may your Pound Money Box be full to overflowing with pound coins as God awards you with blessing after blessing. If you feel yourself slipping into bad-mouthing someone, stop right there, repent and change your direction of speech. It really makes sense.
Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.
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