The Troublesome Tongue

Medical experts tell us that the average human tongue is about 3.3 inches (8.5 cm) long for men and slightly smaller for women.¹ Yet, as small as this little muscle is, we can understand why the Spirit inspired James to write, “So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. Behold how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!” (Jas 3:5, LSB). Setting aside personal experience as proof, the Bible is filled with evidence that the tongue is a stumbling block for all of us.

A quick review of the words of leaders in the Bible shows that the tongue is an instrument of evil and the downfall of many whom God has placed in authority. In Genesis 3, we find Adam blaming God for the woman because she gave him the fruit to eat! The sinful use of language is high­lighted in Genesis 11 when ambition runs amuck, and the people seek to make a name for themselves with their tower. They boasted about their abili­ties, and God addressed their sin by scattering the population and confusing their language.

Abraham lied about his wife being his sister because he was afraid that he would be killed for his beautiful wife, Sarah (Ge 12). Moses’ angry words, paired with his failure to follow the Lord’s instructions, caused him to lose out on entering the Promised Land (Nu 20:9-13; Dt 3:27; 32:48-52). Even the humblest man on earth (Nu 12:3) was tripped up by his words!

When enraged by the ascendancy of David, King Saul lashed out at his son with filthy words about his own wife and Jonathan’s mother (1Sa 20:30). Barak betrayed his lack of faith when he confessed to Deborah that he would not go to battle unless she accompanied him (Jdg 4:8).

I wish I could say that this speech prob­lem dried up in the New Testament, but it doesn’t. We are reminded that John the Baptist’s father, Zechariah, failed to believe the prophecy brought to him by Gabriel and was struck mute (Lk 1:18-20) until the day they named his son. And of course, we have Peter’s double faux pax when he rebuked the Lord for speaking of going to the cross (Mt 16:22-23; Mk 8:32-33) and then denied the Lord three times as He stood trial before the Sanhedrin (Mt 26:75; Mk 14:72) after boasting of his willingness to die for Christ (Mt 26:33-35; Mk 14:29-33; Lk 22:33; Jn 13:37-38).

Many more examples other than these could be given, but my point has been well made: the tongue is a stumbling block for all of us! But there is another aspect I want you to notice in this review of failures in the Bible. Most of these failings were committed by those God had cho­sen as His servants. Of course, God holds all people responsible for the words that come out of their mouths (“But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an account­ing for it in the day of judgment” (Mt 12:36, LSB). Those who boasted at the Tower of Babel are just as responsible as the apostle Peter for the words they spoke. But even more, those who are placed into the service of our Lord should know that it is from the overflow of our hearts—hearts that belong to Christ—that our mouth speaks (Lk 6:45). For the words we speak every day—the tens of millions of words we speak over a life­time—we will be held accountable (Mt 12:36, 37). On these verses, Warren Wiersbe wrote, “If God is going to judge our ‘small talk,‘”’ how much more will He judge our deliberate words?”²

When we feel the gravity of our responsibil­ity to speak righteously and truthfully, words seasoned with grace, we see the wisdom of James’ admonition that we should not rush to be teachers (Jas 3:1) because of the severity of the damage that we can cause by inculcating in our students our poor example. All leaders in Christ’s church must use their tongues in min­istry. We must instruct, correct, direct, and pray. We use our words and the ideas behind them as representatives of God Himself. Because of this, we can expect to receive a stricter judg­ment regarding our faithfulness. And the more we use our words, the greater the opportunity there is that we will say something we shouldn’t. There is wis­dom in Proverbs 10:19,

When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who holds back his lips has insight.

Some of us are talkers. We can talk the paint off the walls. Some of us are the “strong, silent type.” When we have something to say, we get to the point and then stop. We’re done. Whatever your personality, we all need to heed the warnings about the tongue given to us in Scripture. Long talkers and short talkers alike can fall into its trap. As I write this, California is in the midst of wildfires that will most likely make up the worst fire disaster in American history. It isn’t known what caused the original fire, but it only takes a spark. One little spark can set a whole forest or city aflame (Jas 3:5). So, it doesn’t really matter which type you are—we all hold the potential to destroy with our lips—and for teachers of the Word, our ministry comes with this “vocational hazard” built right in.

Before we get too discouraged by these truths, it might be a good time to be reminded of some good news also given to us in the Scriptures:

Jesus Is Stronger Than Your Tongue

Although in our own strength, we cannot tame the tongue, we know that through salvation in Jesus Christ and the indwelling work of the Holy Spirit, God is working to change our thoughts as He changes our hearts in the pro­cess of sanctification. Our words change when the fountain of those words is purified. Only God can do this work, and He is doing it (Ro 12:2; 1Co 6:11; Tit 3:5; Eph 4:22ff)!

Accountable but Never Condemned

Scripture is clear that we, as believ­ers, will give an account for our lives, but we must never confuse accountabil­ity with condemnation. Scripture is clear, “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Ro 8:1). We should never allow this truth to give us an excuse to sin (Ro 6:1) by cheapening grace. But we cannot fall into the opposite lie that says that we must work to keep our­selves in the favor and love of God because the One who saved you will keep you and perfect you for His glory (Php 1:6).

Work Out Your Faith in Obedience

Although we can never earn or keep our salvation by good works, this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t walk in holiness in the power of the Spirit. We may have come to Christ with a particularly strong habit of using sinful words. Perhaps it is gossip, lying, boasting, flattery, cursing, or some other manifestation of sinful speech. How can we overcome these sins? In the power that Christ supplies, we must put aside our old ways and hab­its and begin to practice godliness in practical ways. In a section of Scripture that talks about the new life we can have when the gospel is applied to our lives, Paul wrote,

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for building up what is needed, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Eph 4:29)

The “unwholesome word” that used to be on our lips should be replaced by good words that build up others instead of tearing them down. Where we once lied, we must now speak the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (Eph 4.25)! Where we once raged with angry words, we must lay these aside and be kind and tender­hearted (Eph 4:31-32). God will give you the power to change, but He won’t move your lips for you!

Use Those Lips for the Reasons God Gave Them to You

We’ve already seen the destructive uses for speech, but there are at least two reasons God equipped us with speech. The first is to share the life-giving gos­pel of Jesus Christ. Romans 10:14-15 tells us,

How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!”

It’s a funny pic­ture because feet don’t preach! But feet that go and lips that proclaim the gospel are beautiful to God. We need to use our lips to share the greatest news that mankind will ever hear. Secondly, our lips were meant to praise God. In Psalm 51, David confesses more than his sin. In verse 15, he wrote, “O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise.” Having received the good news of sin covered and a clean heart renewed from its bloodguilt, David prayed that the Lord would fill his heart and lips with praise for our great God, our Savior.

When I pastored in California, a dear church member felt sorry for my dreary study, so she brought me plants so there would be a little life among the bookshelves and endless piles of books. One of the plants she brought was a long-leafed succulent with barbed edges that looked a little menacing. I asked her the name of this particular plant, and she said it was called “Mother-in-law’s Tongue.” I looked it up. It’s true. It makes me wonder about the mother-in-law of the person who named it!

Think about all the arguments, neighborhood disputes, boardroom squabbles, and family chatter that would die out if we began to bridle that little muscle between our teeth. Wars, law­suits, and bloodshed often begin with rash words spouted in a thoughtless moment of emotion.

Think also about the kindness expressed, love proclaimed, and hope extended by words that reflect our God. Words were spoken into the vast empti­ness by the Lord, and this world came into existence. The good news of the Messiah also came through words as angelic and human messengers shared it with the world. The disciples risked life and limb to take the message of the gospel to the world. They still do so to this day. Death and power are in the tongue (Pr 18:21). How will you use your words?