The Tongue

The Bible says that if you can control what you say, everything else is a snap (cf. Jms.3:2). When it comes to our fallen humanity, nothing is more depraved than our mouths. The Bible says that our tongue is “a fire” and “a world of evil among the parts of the body” (Jms.3:6a). God says it can “set the whole course of your life on fire” and he even goes so far as to say that our tongues are “set on fire by hell” (v.6b).

Wow! Talk about wake up call. God wants us to be sure we realize how much trouble our words can cause. It is because of this potential damage that the Bible gives us some very practical advice. Simply put, talk less! Or at least, make sure you pause and think hard before you start talking. In the words of the first chapter of James, we should “keep a tight rein” on our words and always be “slow to speak” (vv.26 & 19).

So no matter who you are or where you’re at in the Christian life, it is always a good idea to recommit yourself to policing your words and asking for God’s help in governing your mouth.