The tongue that defiles

He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. – Proverbs 13:3

My words have an effect on others; they also have an effect on me. When I speak evil, I not only reveal the sin in my own heart (Luke 6:45), I also reinforce that evil and cause it to grow. Jesus said it’s not what goes into my mouth that defiles me, but what comes out. James put it another way: "The tongue . . . defiles the whole body" (James 3:6). My untamed tongue corrupts me.

On the other hand, when I refuse to give expression to impure, unkind, ungodly thoughts, I begin to choke and strangle the evil in my soul.

That’s why the wise man said in Proverbs 13:3 that we must guard our mouth. When we do that, we starve the evil that is gnawing insidiously at the root of our soul. Do we want to put an end to the evil that so easily rises within us? With God’s help, we must learn to control our tongue.

You may say, "I’ve tried to, but I have no power to subdue it." James agreed: "No man can tame the tongue" (James 3:8). But Jesus can. Ask Him to "keep watch" over your mouth (Psalm 141:3), and hand the bridle of your tongue to Him.

Let’s echo the prayer of the hymn by Frances Havergal: "Take my lips and let them be filled with messages for Thee." – David H. Roper

Lord, set a guard upon my lips,

My tongue control today;

Help me evaluate each thought

And watch each word I say. – Hess

READ: James 3:5-12

Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles. – Proverbs 21:23

The Bible in one year:

• 1 Samuel 27-29

• Luke 13:1-22