James 3.3-5
“If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!”
Scripture repeatedly instructs us to be careful about what we say and how we say it. Unfortunately, it’s easy to fall into default mode. We often feel the urge to speak unwisely, and it can have very negative consequences.
The need is for discernment and discipline. Our impulse to talk is strong, and the impact of what we say is big. If we are not disciplined in what we say and how we say it, we speak recklessly, and our impulsive comments and words can cause problems. Sometimes significant problems.
It is not a surprise that James uses fire as the metaphor for the tongue, because often it is our most heated comments that cause the most trouble.
In the gospel of Matthew, Jesus literally speaks to the heart of the issue. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,” the Lord says. “The good man out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Mt 12.34-37)
In other words, how we speak is the fruit of what is on our heart. Before you say anything externally, you have first cultivated it in your heart. First you speak to yourself, then you speak to others. You speak from the “treasure” of your heart; that is, you speak from whatever your heart believes to be most important. You speak from whatever you have allowed to grow in your heart.
“The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious and adds persuasiveness to his lips.” (Proverbs 16.23)
If you nurture and cultivate your new nature in Christ, then you will speak in a way that honors God and edifies others. You will speak truth, and you will speak it with clarity and wisdom. But if you feed and cultivate your old nature, then you will speak in a way that dishonors God and does damage to others.
As always, it is a heart issue. If you desire to guard your tongue, you must first guard your heart. Our words reveal the true condition of our heart. You sometimes hear someone say, “He really spoke from the heart.” The truth is, we always speak from the heart.
It is why Proverbs 4.23 says, “Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life,” and in the very next verse it says, “Stay away from corrupt speech and avoid all devious talk.”
We must speak the truth from a heart that is energized by truth. We must speak with love from a heart that is motivated by love. We must speak with wisdom from a heart that is directed by wisdom. There are far too many reckless words being spoken and written and Tweeted in our world. There is far too much “corrupt speech and devious talk.”
What you say matters. So does how you say it, and why.
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19.14)
