The Tongue: From Idioms to Idiocy

[Editor: I sometimes have a tongue problem. Do you? God has corrected most of it but I still give retorts when others insult or mock me. My prayer is that I can be like Jesus and give no answer to those who misuse their tongue against me.]

When we cut down or insult another person, what is it that is in us that wants to put someone else down?

Is that the only way we can feel lifted up by mocking others? WWJD?

If we are Christians, even if we think we are teasing, can you picture Jesus insulting his disciples or mocking their traits? Did Jesus ever mock Peter because he reacted too quickly and sometimes foolishly? Those that have an ear to hear know what Peter did in the Garden of Gethsemane.

For those who care, is it godly to insult and mock others for real or imagined characteristics? If God created and the Evil One destroys, whose side are you on when you mock or destroy a person's sense of self-esteem?

There is a fantastic TRUE book which illustrates very well the power of the tongue to build someone up or to destroy them verbally.

It is called "Positive Words, Powerful Results" by Hal Urban subtitled Simple Ways to Honor, Affirm, and Celebrate Life.

Hal Urban was a high school teacher for many years and also taught at the University of San Francisco. He is a well-known leader in the Character Education movement and is in constant demand as a speaker at national conferences and school and community events. He raised three sons as a single father, and now lives in Redwood City, California with his wife, Cathy.

Part One of the book has these telling chapters ...

1. Words Make Us Human
2. Words Can Change Lives
3. Words Can Hurt and Offend
4. Words Come from the Heart
5. Words are Choices

Then in Part Two he goes on to explain the WIN-WIN REWARDS OF POSITIVE WORDS

It is one of the best books I have ever read to explain the Biblical principles presented in excerpt below.


I found this article for your consideration. The article is presented in excerpts...
Here are the Excerpts that Apply Most Commonly



Sins of the Tongue

Much can be said of a person's character by the way they use their tongue. Sanaca once said, "Speech is the index of the mind." Jesus said that "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." (Mat. 12:34)

According to Proverbs 18:21, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." In James 3:6, the Bible says that the tongue is "a fire, a world of iniquity", and James 3:8 calls the tongue a "deadly poison."

As a fool would carelessly play and prank with a loaded gun, so many Christians today do likewise with their deadly tongue. If only we could fully realize the untold damage that we are doing to the body of Christ! If only we could see the full effect of the words we use!

Perhaps a closer look into the Bible can help. God made man, and God made man's tongue, so surely God should be qualified to comment on the subject. Surely God should have some good counsel concerning the use and misuse of the human tongue. Let us consider some sins of the tongue as we find them revealed in God's word.

The Lying Tongue

Proverbs 25:18 says, "A man that beareth false witness against his neighbour is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow." So a lying tongue is a misuse of a deadly weapon. It can be used to harm others near at hand (a maul), a few feet away (a sword), or a great distance away (an arrow). Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), and God said that he hates a lying tongue (Pro. 6:17). All liars will have their part in the lake of fire, according to Revelation 21:8.


The Overused Tongue

Some people sin by simply overusing their tongue. Ecclesiastes 5:3 says that "a fool's voice is known by multitude of words." People think they appear smart by much talking, but the Bible states just the opposite. Ecclesiastes 5:2 says, "Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few." God doesn't like a blabber mouth. You say, "Well, that's just the way I am!" Then REPENT! Confess your sin and repent. Stop justifying your wickedness and ask God to help you repent.

The Swift Tongue

Some people are guilty of speaking too swiftly when they really need to wait before saying anything. God's word says the following in Proverbs 18:13: "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." How many times have you had to "eat" your words because you spoke too swiftly? James 1:19 warns us to be swift to HEAR and SLOW to speak. Why do you suppose God gave us two ears but only one mouth?

The Talebearing Tongue


Proverbs 18:8 says, "The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly." Leviticus 19:16 says, "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people. . ." Every Christian has the duty to deny his own desires and seek to edify other Christians (Rom. 14:19; Philip. 2:3). Talebearing runs wholly contrary to Christian edification. Talebearing (carrying and telling tales. or gossip) spreads all sorts of hurtful information around, and Satan uses such information to hinder and tear down God's work. A victim of talebearing, according to Proverbs, is a "wounded" person. God forbid that a Christian should wound another Christian, but it does happen all the time! Some Christians live as though they think God has "called" them to bear tales on other Christians. Many "Christian" newsletters are dedicated to informing the body of Christ on the latest news about someone's ministry or personal life. There are many nice words and phrases used to justify such conduct, but the Bible word is TALEBEARING.

The Cursing Tongue

Some people, Christians included, have a nasty habit of using their tongue for cursing. Romans 3:13-14 says, "Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness."

The Piercing Tongue

Another sinful tongue is the piercing tongue. Proverbs 12:18 speaks of this tongue by saying, "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." Some people have a sharp piercing tongue which Satan uses to offend and insult others. The Bible commands Christians to have their speech dominated by GRACE (Col. 4:6), yet most churches have a few people who use their tongue like a sword to pierce their brethren in Christ.

It was Teddy Roosevelt who said, "Speak softly and carry a big stick," but the truth is that if you speak softly you won't need a big stick!
 
Titus 2:8 commands us to use sound speech which cannot be condemned. Friend, do you use graceful speech which cannot be evil spoken of, or do you possess a piercing tongue? Every Christian's prayer should be, "Lord, make my words gracious and tender, for tomorrow I may have to eat them."

"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." (James 3:2)

Copyright © 2001 James L. Melton

Isn't it time for us to grow up and stop getting our jollies from putting others down? How childish is that? What effect does it have on you when others compliment you sincerely about something you do or something you are?

What effect does it have when others belittle you?

Which would you or I rather be remembered for? Building others up or tearing them down?

References

• Why Mock Others? http://livinforchrist.multiply.com/journal/item/2392
• Why Mock and Tease? 
• Dealing with Mockers 
• Put-Downs 
• Why Do Some Criticize and Put Down? 
• People Who Put You Down 
• Do You Put People Down to Boost Your Self-Esteem 
• Can't Stand People that Put Others Down
• Why Do People Put You Down?
  

The Investor

Copyright 2005 by Charles G. Pedley

Once there was a man who over his lifetime learned a strategy of investing which made him a multi-billionaire. As he was getting on in age, he wished to pass on this knowledge to his children and all those who would be patient enough to learn the technique. He knew that if he sat them down and told them how he did it, they would forget part of it and give up too soon or remember only part of it, so he decided to write a book called The Investor's Manual.

In this book, he laid out, in specific detail, chapter after chapter the technique he had used to become so rich. It was a long book. He explained a method and then gave examples of how it had worked in his own life over and over again. Knowing that all of his children think differently he explained the same principles in several different ways, hoping that if they did not understand and believe after reading one way, that maybe, just maybe they would finally read a method that they understood. It was not a short book. It took several years to write, but finally it was finished and was published.

That year, at Christmas he gave each of his children a copy of his book, hot off the press. They all thanked their dad very much for the gift as is the custom at Christmas. Some of them started reading it and thought it was too simple; others began and thought, "This is too boring! Maybe I will read it when I get older!" Some would read a chapter, try the idea they thought they had read and when it did not work out right away, gave up in disgust.

A few of them patiently read on. After all, their dad was a multi-billionaire. He must know something! Even though parts of it made no sense, these patient ones kept reading until they had finished the whole book. Some even read parts of it again and again.

A few decided to take a little of their money and try what dad had told them. They didn't became rich overnight, but gradually those who kept studying The Investor's Manual and investing according to the principles that their dad had laid out, came to see that it worked. They discovered the ideas that their dad had discovered over his lifetime and put them into practice. Ever so slowly they became richer and richer. Even though it had taken dad his lifetime to learn, they learned at a younger age and started to accumulate wealth sooner.

Some of the children who had not finished the book thought that dad had given the wealthy ones more money to start with and became jealous and envious. They would stay away from family gatherings because they were angry that dad would be more generous to some than others. The family grew further and further apart.

Finally, one of the children who had become a multi-millionaire at an early age thought that he would try to bring the family back together again like it had been when they were young. He called a meeting and told them that he would tell them exactly how he accumulated so much wealth. They all came even though it had been a long time since they had been together.

He shared with them one of the principles that had made him wealthy. Then he gave each one of his family $10, 000 and told them to go and try it and not to give up too soon.

They all took the money. Some thought they could think of better ways to use the money and decided to spend it on a "good time". Some invested the money like their brother had said and waited.

Results did not always come immediately. But for those who were patient, they began to see their money grow! Dad's ideas did work after all! After seeing that only one idea made money for them, some of them searched and searched until they found their copy of The Investor's Manual and started to read it again. Every time they put a principle into practice, with patience, they discovered that it accumulated more money and gradually their fortunes grew. They became wealthier and wealthier like their dad had been. They discovered that dad's ideas worked after all but not always right away or as soon as you would like. Some of them take time and patience to ride out the storm so to speak and not give up.

You will immediately recognize the name of the man when I tell you. His name is Almighty Father, Creator, Mighty God. And you have probably guessed it by now, that The Investor's Manual is the Bible. Money, I suppose represents how we spend our time. Do we invest it wisely or will we look back on a life of regrets, unfulfilled promises and broken relationships?

And now you know the rest of the story! And if you look back you will see various ways that we react to the Bible, God's method to us. In fact, some may have put this article down and decided to read it later just the way we often do with the Bible! And of course The Investor's Manual was a great Christmas gift! And the son who put his father's method into practice was of course, Jesus, our greatest Christmas gift ever!

Do you see how we let preconceived ideas influence our thoughts and actions? Do you see that it is our attitude toward things that happen to us that determines how we think and feel and ultimately, act? Do you see how changing our attitude and giving a new attitude a chance can change your life? It has changed mine many times! Sometimes I am just downright stupid! It takes God allowing things to happen in my life again and again to finally get the message through this thick skull of mine!