Taming The Beast

Read Proverbs 16

People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

James 3:7-8

Whether we are working our way through Proverbs or turning to the New Testament, the Bible doesn’t compromise its position regarding our tongues. We are repeatedly warned to guard our mouths, to think first, and to be slow to speak. While we may reason that our speech isn’t so bad, we would do well to consider that God probably knows more about it than we do. Our tongues have an incredible potential to destroy people. Careless words can cripple friendships, jeopardize relationships, and bring great amounts of hurt into people’s lives.

James offers us a proverb with a particularly devastating judgment: “No one can tame the tongue.” We may be helpless, but we’re not hopeless. What is impossible for people is not all that difficult for God. We need God to sanctify our tongues and to make our speech edifying and holy.

A WORD FOR TODAY

God can control our tongues.

Today, Lord, help me to tame my tongue. Keep me from speaking evil.