Daily Reflections of Prov. 15:4 (The Tongue Can Be Awesome)

Long before Greek playwright, Euripides, wrote, "the tongue is mightier than the blade," in 406BC and Edward Bulwer-Lytton wrote, "the pen is mightier than the sword," in 1839, King Solomon wrote these words in Proverbs 15:4 about the tongue. "The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit."

Simple words but wise words. When Solomon writes about the tongue he captures more than just the articulation of words. He includes our hearts, our motives, our intentions and our attitudes. Obviously, a tongue isn't deceitful by its on volition. It doesn't have ulterior motives. It doesn't scheme or craft words on its own. The tongue is only a tool of the brain to express thoughts, ideas, messages, love, comfort, disdain, etc.

I hear people talk about having a potty mouth or a nasty tongue as if it's something affixed to their body of which they have no control. "It just goes off on its own sometimes. I never know what it's going to do or say." My response, "Really?" The tongue only expresses what's happening inside us. It reveals a lot about us. Just like the eyes are the windows to our souls, our tongues are trumpets of our character.

Deceitful tongues reveal a deceitful person who is primarily only concerned about themselves. Their purpose is to take advantage or to intentionally hurt someone. A tongue that brings healing reveals a person of compassion. Their purpose is selfless and adds hope and comfort to others.

I've met a lot of tongues in my day. It doesn't take long just listen to find out about a person. I've met critical tongues, analytical tongues, angry tongues, hurt tongues, arrogant tongues, bashful tongues, loud tongues, funny tongues, defensive tongues, harsh tongues, pleasant tongues, stinging tongues, lying tongues, honest tongues, insightful tongues, lecturing tongues, vile tongues, soothing tongues, and yes, deceitful tongues and healing tongues.

The sad thing is that those tongues at some point in my life could have been mine. In fact, they could have been mine throughout the course of a single day. So what does that say about me? What does your tongue say about you? A close examination of our tongue, reveals a great deal about what's going in our own heart and mind. If our tongue is expressing a lot of negativity, anger, hurt, piety, or self-righteousness, then we need to take a close look at ourselves. I want people to see my tongue as the tree of life that brings refreshment and healing and hope and encouragement.

God, I realize my tongue brings forth blessings and curses. I don't want to be seen a negative, hurtful or harmful tongue. I don't want to use my tongue to give lashings. I want to be seen as a fountain of refreshment that allows others to drink of your river of life. Fill me. Indwell me. Capture me so that from my lips will flow the fruit of your encouragement and good news.