#26 – The Destructive Organ– August 23, 2024
Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
In “Our Daily Bread” on July 20th was an article that talked about a 17 year old student from a prestigious school that died by suicide. This young man was bullied relentlessly. The school leaders knew about the mistreatment, but did little to protect him. The school now admits that they “fell tragically short” in protecting him. This was a time when silence should have been broken, and someone should have talked to him in an encouraging way and the bullies should have been reprimanded. Someone should have spoken up.
The devastation of bullying is a great example of the power of words. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death”. It’s the only muscular organ in the body that can cause devastation, sadness, and even death to those who are victims of its use.
However, the tongue can also be used for comfort, happiness, encouragement, and many other uplifting words. There are times it’s just more appropriate to be silent. For instance, there are seven reasons to be silent.
- Be silent if you don’t know the full story.
- Be silent in the heat of anger.
- Be silent if your words can offend someone.
- Be silent if your words can destroy a friendship.
- Be silent if you can’t control your emotions.
- Be silent if you can’t talk without yelling.
- Be silent if your silence can save a bond.
Numbers 1, 3, and 4 is used too many times in the devastation of others; gossip. The problem with gossip is that, usually, the person spreading the rumor really doesn’t know the whole story. Once all the truth comes out they usually find out that what they’ve said has caused damage to someone; mentally, physically, or even spiritually.
According to an old fable, there are four things you can’t recover…The stone, after the throw, the occasion after it’s missed, the time after it’s gone, and the word after it’s spoken.
Why are we in such a hurry to belittle someone? Because it makes us feel superior to them. It’s a desire to show control over another person.
Why are we so determined to spread gossip? Perhaps it’s just the “rush” to be the first one to tell someone something they haven’t heard yet. It doesn’t matter if it’s true, or a big fat lie. We just have to pass it to one person, and before long it’s all over the community.
There are many verses (many more than what I’ve listed below) that speak of the tongue and the words that come out of our mouth:
Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Matthew 12:36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of in the Day of Judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
James 1:26, “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.”
Matthew 15:11, “It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”
Proverbs 13:3, “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
Proverbs 21:23, “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
Get the message?
The tongue has to be controlled. We have to decide; when we should speak, if we really want to say what we are getting ready to say, or if should we just keep our mouth shut.
I had a speech teacher that would, when asked a question, always take a few seconds to think about it before she answered. It didn’t matter if the question was about class or personal. I always admired her for that. She was a good example to her students about taming the tongue.
Be careful at all times about what you say, how you say it, and when to speak. You’ll save yourself a lot of embarrassment later on if you unknowingly speak a lie, at the wrong time, to the wrong person, and in a hateful tone.
Speak the truth…or keep your mouth shut. Don’t flap that tongue unless it’s used for what it was intended. Besides, it’s not always as important of what you say, as what you do.
“Your greatest message will be spoken by your life…not your lips” (Stephen Furtek).
Nancy Stoppe
Blog – inspirationalinsights6.com (inspirational insights 6 .com)
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