The Tongue Has The Power Of Life And Death
We Speak Either Blessings or Curses
PROVERBS 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
”Proverbs 18:21 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/pro.18.21.nkj
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What we say has great power. We can speak both blessings and curses, each produces it’s own fruits.
James tells us, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
James 1:19-20 NKJV.
When we speak from anger, we risk doing irreversible damage; no one can “unsay” a single word. Yes, one can apologise, but the memory will not be erased and the damage is done!
James goes on to say, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.”
James 1:26-27 NKJV
Gossip too, is a major problem and extremely damaging. Their is a fine line between discussion regarding the well being of someone, and gossiping about them. It is easy to understand the pain and damage caused by gossip when you are the victim. But so often we don’t give a thought to our victims and give our tongues far too much freedom.
Rather than gossip, pray, help, and encourage, let your words be a blessing to all, for if they don’t bless, they curse.
It is not easy to control the tongue, James said, “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.”
James 3:3-12 NKJV
Our contradictory speech often confuses us. At times our words are good and pleasing to God, but at other times they are spiteful and nasty. Every one of us needs God’s help with what we say, for we cannot control the tongue in our own strength. Ask God to help you to control your tongue, that what comes out from your mouth is Spirit led and glorifies our Father in heaven.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
