The Bible speaks about taming our tongues (James 3). Both David and James use the metaphor of bridling our tongues (Psalms 39:1, James 1:26). A bridle is a leather harness and bit placed in a horse’s mouth to control it. That might seem a bit drastic to us, but in all honesty all of us could occasionally benefit from a built in muzzle that clamps over our mouths when we are about to say something we are going to regret. And for some, it doesn’t just happen occasionally. It’s a daily occurrence.
The Bible has many admonitions about taming our tongues. We are cautioned about…
- a flattering tongue (Psalm 5:9)
- a haughty tongue (Psalm 12:2-4)
- a lying tongue (Proverbs 25:18)
- a backbiting tongue (Proverbs 25:23)
- a talebearer’s tongue (Proverbs 18:8)
- a cursing tongue (Romans 3:13, 14)
- a sharp tongue (Proverbs 12:18)
- a gossipy tongue (Romans 1:29)
This is why we must be cautious in what we say to others. Even if we apologize for making careless statements to or about others that does not erase what was said. We cannot strike it from the record or take it back, because people will remember it even if we say we didn’t really mean it. Spoken words don’t just dissolve into the air. They live on and damage is done.
Perhaps the hardest tongue to guard against is one that manifests itself when we least expect it because our tongues speak from the abundance of our hearts (Matthew 12:34).
Unfortunately this seems to happen with those who are closest to us. We say something stupid or hurtful and we don’t even know why. We might think, “I wonder where that came from?” But the heart knows. Someone or something can trigger unresolved issues within us, and we end up regurgitating them on others.
Solomon said to weigh our words carefully (Ecclesiastes 5:2, 3). James said to think before we speak (James 1:19). Jesus said what goes into our mouths is not as important as what we say (Matthew 15:11).
Heartfelt words spoken with kindness, consideration, and love are beautiful (Proverbs 25:11). Careless, thoughtless words can be poisonous (James 3:8). Remember that words have a life of their own. What we say today lives on tomorrow!
