The Guarded Tongue

Today’s scripture:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” (Ephesians 4:29)

“neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” (Ephesians 5:4)

The tongue is one of the most powerful tools we have. It can be used to curse, hurt, and destroy, or it can be used to glorify the God of the universe and actually please His heart with your words.

Today we are looking into the seventh topic on the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus is teaching, which is “Speech Guarded”. In Matthew 5:33-37, Jesus says we should really watch our words because words are powerful. I’ll explain just how powerful they can be in a minute. Jesus says we should not swear at all. He says man cannot be trusted (John 2:24-25). So, if we can’t be trusted, then how can we swear we will never be a certain way or do certain things? I told myself I wouldn’t let my sexual sin go too far, but I took it as far as homosexual acts! We can never be so sure of ourselves and truly have a real thorough knowledge of how wicked our hearts can be.

In Luke 18:11 The Pharisee said he is not a sinner like everyone else. And he doesn’t cheat, or sin, or commit adultery. We have to be real careful when we talk such foolishness. It is way too easy to get caught up in thinking we are better than others, then we begin to speak it into the air and we can actually curse ourselves that way. See, we start to show how prideful we can be by such words and if we choose not to be humble, in Luke 14:11, God says He will humble us and it can be very uncomfortable.

On the other end of the spectrum is equally true as well. I spent several years going to a S.A. support group for sexoholics. I was taught by that organization that I would always be a sexoholic. In fact before I could speak up in meetings, I would have to proclaim that out loud… “Hi, my name is Doug and I am a sexoholic”. For approx. 10 years I did that every week and bought into that lie. But, that is NOT WHO I AM, that is what I was doing! I AM a created human being made to worship God, but who is deceived by this world, the devil, and my own heart and someone who desperately needs Jesus. And now, I AM a child of the King and I AM made holy! However, by saying that I was forever a sexoholic and speaking that into the air, I continued to live like that until God knocked me over with His Holy Spirit. By my own words I was repeating lies and the more I did, the more I belied it, and the more I believed it, the more I lived like one. See how powerful our words can be?

My wife Cyndi said she used to say to herself, She would never do certain things. She said she would never get divorced so she would never get married. She said she would always let her kids have all they wanted (cable TV in each of their rooms, toys, etc.). But, now she and I both are reaping some of that fruit that has not been good.

I grew up being around my dad who would drink, my siblings often did drugs and I vowed to never go down that road. I was going to be better than that. I swore I would not be like those scum of the earth drunks and drug addicts. I was developing a strong self-will that reeked of pride. Guess what, I didn’t drink heavily or do any drugs, not even pot, but I ended up going down the spiral of degradation of sexual immorality that costs my family a lot of pain!

Reflection:

The Attitude here needs to be of one that has a commitment on keeping your promises as well as speaking wisely with careful thought on glorifying the Lord with thanksgiving. Be careful of the sureness of your words. Speak with truth of what you know and not of speculation. Speaking with an attitude of gratitude and of integrity is the kind of talk that glorifies and pleases God’s heart.

Challenge:

Today, meditate on where your attitude is with a thankful heart. Where is it with integrity? Are you someone who speaks with truth and always guarding your tongue? Are you someone who people would say keeps your promises? Don’t make a vow to God or say “This time, I’ll make it right”. Just make up your mind of what you need to do and commit it before the Lord. Let your yes be yes and your no be no.

-Doug McGowan