by Sharlyn Williams

 

Need to control your tongue? Ever tried to “catch” your word? What you say?

 

The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.
It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire,
and is itself set on fire by hell.

 ~James 3:6

 

This past Wednesday, we had a fabulous bible study reviewing the power and volatility of the tongue. Pastor Charles nailed several concepts related to the importance of controlling our tongue. I began to wonder how many times in my life I had caused someone undue stress or pain because I failed to control my tongue. One statement that resonated with me was this one: If you can get your speech under control, you can get your life under control. “Lord,” I prayed silently,  “please help me live a controlled life! Help me to control my tongue.”

 

I don’t go the teacher’s lunchroom at my job. I haven’t for many years. Years ago co-worker of mine asked me how I felt about another teacher while I was eating, and I just said, “I don’t know.” She continued to speak on the subject, saying that she felt that person was … I don’t really remember now, but it wasn’t nice. Next thing I know, after lunch, she said, “You know Sharlyn said that Ms. So & So is…” I was floored by that revelation and I decided never to go to the lunchroom and have my name dragged through the mud again. Perhaps you have your own personal stories of a time when your own words hastily spoken began the process of speaking years of pain and aggravation into the lives of friends or family members. Or maybe your “tongue truth” is that someone in your life was able to create chaos in your life after speaking poisoned words that created havoc in your world.

In the early days of our ministry at Grace Chapel, during the time when Pastor Charles and I were considered “green around the ears,” a few people used their tongue amongst the congregation to cause division and pain. The aftermath of this type of destructive verbal behavior was the loss of fellowship with dear members due to their misunderstanding of untrue painful words. It doesn’t have to be that way! We can train our tongue to speak words of life, peace and blessing to others. That’s what I want to do.

Process:

• Have you learned to control your tongue, or do you still speak words of pain?

• How can developing a close walk with the Lord decrease misuse of our tongue?

 

Scriptures About The Tongue

• Proverbs 18:21: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
• James 3:5:  “Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boats. Consider what a great forest is set

    on fire by a small spark.”
• James 3:6: 
• Proverbs 10:8
• Proverbs 10:6
• Romans 5:1
• Proverbs 10:10