Taming The Tongue
God gave us the ability to speak so that we could give life like He does.
“Gideon and his three hundred men, exhausted yet keeping up the pursuit, came to the Jordan and crossed it. He said to the men of Sukkoth, “Give my troops some bread; they are worn out, and I am still pursuing Zebah and Zalmunna, the kings of Midian.” But the officials of Sukkoth said, “Do you already have the hands of Zebah and Zalmunna in your possession? Why should we give bread to your troops?” Then Gideon replied, “Just for that, when the Lord has given Zebah and Zalmunna into my hand, I will tear your flesh with desert thorns and briers...Gideon son of Joash then returned...He took the elders of the town and taught the men of Sukkoth a lesson by punishing them with desert thorns and briers."
Judges 8:4-9, 22-27, 29-30, 33-35
Gideon found out the hard way that doing good does not guarantee that others will do good to you. Have you ever experienced a hardship while you were trying to help someone else? Have you ever had a blessing boomerang back on you in a way that did not lead to a blessing? What happens to our hearts when others respond with curses when we are trying to bless? What happens when we try to love our neighbors but they are not loving back?
Consider the case of Gideon. He had answered the call and was literally fighting to help bring peace to the people. Along the way he and the troops got hungry so they asked their neighbors for some bread. From callous hearts and careless tongues the leaders of Sukkoth responded without compassion. This story could have gone so differently, but the way of the wayward tongue leads to conflict. How have you experienced this recently? Have you had anyone say anything to you that made you upset? Have you said anything that has caused another to be upset?
“I am worn out calling for help; my throat is parched. I am a foreigner to my own family, a stranger to my own mother’s children; for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me. But I pray to you, Lord, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Come near and rescue me; deliver me because of my foes. I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving. The poor will see and be glad— you who seek God, may your hearts live! The Lord hears the needy and does not despise his captive people. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them,”
Psalms 69:3, 5, 8-9, 13, 16, 18, 22, 30, 32-34
David was not having a very good day when he wrote this song. He says he was estranged from his family, insulted by many, and worn out from the words of others. Wouldn't that natural response of a king like David be to fight back in a war of words and perhaps a war of action? Instead, David chose to let God fight his battles. David turned to God and poured out his thoughts before Him before responding. What would happen if we were slow to respond when insulted and chose instead to seek God?
After pouring out his heart, David turns to what he knows he was made to do. He praises God. We were made to praise. We are instruments of worship and exultation. David says let all heaven and earth praise Him. The truth is that if that happened we would never have to worry about offense as we would all be speaking only of the goodness of God.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit. A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel. The Lord tears down the house of the proud, but he sets the widow’s boundary stones in place. Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the Lord, and humility comes before honor.”
Proverbs 15:1, 4, 6, 8-9, 16, 18, 25, 33
It is amazing to see how the scriptures align today when considering how we use the gift of our words. Solomon says a gentle answer turns away wrath but a harshh word stirs up anger. Think about a time where you just had to fire back when someone was offensive. What makes us feel the need to fight fire with fire? Did it help or did it make things worse. Wisdom says be patient in a quarrel and respond with kindness regardless of what others choose to do. Jesus said He is gentle. When we respond with gentle answers we are reflecting our Savior.
Solomon speaks to the root of the issue, pride. Pride is the primary culprit for much of why we respond harshly or react with a hot temper. Pride tells you that you should be offended, that you are owed something, and you have every right to respond. The enemy loves to make you prideful. Wisdom says pride comes before the fall. Wisdom says humility before honor and that the fear of the Lord will give you the right perspective on how to respond. Which path will you choose to walk today? The prideful path or the pace to peace?
“In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains...Many nations will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths...They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. All the nations may walk in the name of their gods, but we will walk in the name of the Lord our God for ever"
Micah 4:1-3, 5-6, 12
Reading the prophetic literature can give us a glimpse of the vision God has for our lives and our communities. God shares a vision with Micah and it resembles a world centered in peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and he tells us that we will be happier if we learn to be peacemakers like Him. Peace does not just happen. It is something we have to make happen. How can you help make peace happen in your heart or in the world around you? Peace starts inside us then it can invade the world around us.
Look at the strength of the language used in this text. The people choose to beat their swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks. The people choose to move on from their old ways and walk in the name of the Lord. It is hard to lay down the sword when others are picking fights, but you can produce a much better crop with a plowshare than a weapon.
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?...if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
James 3:3-11, 13-14, 17-18
Do you think James message is more or less relevant today? We live in a cancel culture, instant feedback, and social media driven world. Suicide rates amongst teens because of cyber bullying have skyrocketed. Isolation and loneliness could be considered an epidemic because of the impact that words or lack of words have had on the lives of people living today.
Martin Luther King Jr. said it well when he said darkness can never drive out darkness only light can drive out the darkness. Jesus calls us to be people of light. It is not enough to follow Jesus and simply avoid gossip, slander, cursing, boasting, bitter talk, and so much more. We are called to be people who share the good news and glorify God with every word we say.
James says the tongue is impossible to tame and can start a fire. Isn't that the truth? How many relationships and lives have been ruined by words? How many have to be before we take a stand and choose to live by the Spirit instead of the flesh? The truth is it is impossible to tame the tongue in our own strength, but all things are possible through Jesus Christ.
How do we get there? How do we become peace makers? It starts with letting go of our pride. James says let go of envy, offense, selfish ambition, boasting, and lying. Jesus said others will know that you love Him by how you love others. We cannot say we love Jesus and hate others. It is against the word of God and the word can never be broken. The good news is God promises we are not alone and He will give us the strength to do His will. In Him and by the power of the Holy Spirit we can overcome any desire to use our words as weapons. In Him and through the power of the Holy Spirit we can help the hurting, bring hope to the hopeless, and be peace makers who reap a harvest of righteousness. So what will it be? Will you speak life or death? Will you curse or will you bless? You have the power to make a difference and we live in a world that needs the peace you can make.