The Worse Kind of Poison
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” Proverbs 18:21
Have you ever said something and wished that you could take it back? Politicians do that all the time, except that most of them don’t really want to take their words back. They just want to try and undo the damage to themselves that their speech caused, but they usually do mean what they said originally. They try to excuse what they said by saying that they “misspoke”, but to “misspeak” actually means to say something incorrectly. How many politicians will own up to being wrong? Perhaps one percent. That’s the trouble with the people that we elect. Most of them think they can do no wrong. However, politicians aren’t the only folks who think that they are always right. That reminds me of the saying about a man and his wife. In the heat of an argument, the man is asked by an unknown voice, “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be happy?”
The words that we speak, like it or not, emerge directly from what is in our heart. I know that is true because Jesus said so. In Luke 6:45, He said that “of the abundance of the heart (a man’s or woman’s) mouth speaks.” If there is love, honor, and goodness in a person, he or she will speak that which is good, uplifting, and true. But if the heart is filled with hatred, envy, and evil, he or she will say some pretty nasty things, things that hurt people or at the very least, bring discouragement. I hate hearing folks speak vulgar things, but worse than that is hearing someone use God’s or Jesus’ name as a curse word.
James, Jesus’ half-brother who it is believed wrote the book of James, had a lot to say about the tongue, the words that we speak. He compared the loose tongue to a horse in whose mouth we put a bit so that we can guide them which way we want to go. What if we had to have a bit in our mouths so that someone else could control what we say? That is already being tried in our nation by “cancelling” those who say what the ungodly doesn’t like. James also compares the tongue to the very small helm that steers a huge ship one way or another. He also wrote that a small tongue can start a huge fire of discontent, war, and all kinds of misery. He went on to say that every kind of animal can be tamed by man, but man’s tongue is free to spread its unruly evil and its poison. Men and women bless God and curse people who are made in God’s image with the same mouth. That is like claiming to love God, but talking “trash” about our friends, relatives, neighbors, or co-workers. How does that demonstrate sacrificial love?
We have all heard the saying, “You had better make your words sweet because you might just have to eat them!” Sometimes, I think of something that I want to say to someone, but then I stop and consider what his or her reaction will be. I don’t like to argue, and I don’t like to start an argument. If something I say might cause an argument, I don’t say it if it is not helpful. It is always better to think about what you say before you say it. Is it really necessary? Will it help the other person, or will it hurt them? Are you saying it because it makes a contribution to the conversation or because you think you just have to say something? I have found that folks who like to talk a lot are not really interested in what I have to say thus I just concentrate on being a good listener. You learn more that way, well, at least, sometimes. Besides, I had rather write than speak. Writing gives me time to think about my words rather than just blurting out whatever pops into my head.
A person’s reputation can be killed by some unkind and hurtful words spoken by another. That’s why James said that the tongue is full of deadly poison. That old saying about “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” is definitely not true. My Dad used to say that he would rather take a beating than have someone rebuke or chastise him with their harsh words. Not that I approve of beatings, but the soreness will eventually go away. However, those mean and hurtful words will linger forever. Paul wrote in Romans 14:19 for us to “follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify (build up) another.” What if everyone made a conscious effort to do that?