Kindly speaking
The Bible is full of instruction of how we are to speak to each other. God warns us over and over again about our tongue! It can be such an evil thing when misused. Here are some examples. Check yourself to see where you stand before Him, and pray that He strengthens you where you are weak. Our society is so full of nasty, degrading talk anymore. Count how many times you hear ,"oh my GOD!" on the television in just one evening! It is disgusting. We know what God thinks of it. He warns us time and again about using our tongues correctly. You can not take back what you say. Once it is out the damage is done. Even though you may be sorry, and you may be forgiven, the person to whom you have spoken has been hurt for good. The words will always be there, even if they are forgiven and put to the back of the mind. They will have done their poisoning. If the repentence comes quickly the damage could be minimal, but still there. Once again, thank God for Jesus and His healing powers for us!! I will just stick to Proverbs for these verses as it is FULL of them in itself.
Prov.5:3 For the lips of the adulteress drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as gall, and sharp as a double-edge sword.
6:2 if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, 3:then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:
7:21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
10:14 Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. 20:The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. 21: The lips of the righteous nourish many, but the fools die for lack of judgment. 31: The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. 32: The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
11:9 With his mouth the godless destroy his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape. :12A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. 14: From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. 15: The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. 16: A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. 18: Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19:Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. 22: The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful. 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. 14:2 A fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them. 5: A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. 7:Stay away from the foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. 9: Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright. 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2: The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 4:The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. 7:The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 28:A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. 19: He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction. 20: A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. 27:A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even tempered. 28: Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. 18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. 4: The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountian of wisdom is a bubbling brook. 6: A fool's lips bring him strife , and his mouth invites a beating. 7: A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. 13: He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame. 22:10 Drive out the mocker and out go strife; quarrels and insults are ended. 11:He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. 23:9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words. 15: My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; 16: my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.24:26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. 28:Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive.26:28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth, someone else, and not your own lips. 15: A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; 16: restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand. 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise man keeps himself under control. 20: Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 22: An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
Do you see a constant in these verses? It seems that the tongue is our best way to prove to others whether we are foolish or wise! It is the quickest way into trouble, and the hardest thing to take back. It is the hardest and most important part of us to tame! We can not do that without the help of our Lord. Thank God He is with us always! Use the tongue to pray, praise and give thanks.
Prov.5:3 For the lips of the adulteress drip honey and her speech is smoother than oil, but in the end she is bitter as gall, and sharp as a double-edge sword.
6:2 if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, 3:then do this, my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands:
7:21 With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk.
10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
10:14 Wise men store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. 20:The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. 21: The lips of the righteous nourish many, but the fools die for lack of judgment. 31: The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. 32: The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
11:9 With his mouth the godless destroy his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape. :12A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. 14: From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. 15: The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. 16: A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. 18: Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19:Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. 22: The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in men who are truthful. 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. 14:2 A fool's talk brings a rod to his back, but the lips of the wise protect them. 5: A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies. 7:Stay away from the foolish man, for you will not find knowledge on his lips. 9: Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright. 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. 2: The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. 4:The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. 7:The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools. 16:24 Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 28:A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. 17:14 Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out. 19: He who loves a quarrel loves sin; he who builds a high gate invites destruction. 20: A man of perverse heart does not prosper; he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. 27:A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even tempered. 28: Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue. 18:2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. 4: The words of a man's mouth are deep waters, but the fountian of wisdom is a bubbling brook. 6: A fool's lips bring him strife , and his mouth invites a beating. 7: A fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. 8: The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man's inmost parts. 13: He who answers before listening--that is his folly and his shame. 22:10 Drive out the mocker and out go strife; quarrels and insults are ended. 11:He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. 23:9 Do not speak to a fool, for he will scorn the wisdom of your words. 15: My son, if your heart is wise, then my heart will be glad; 16: my inmost being will rejoice when your lips speak what is right.24:26 An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips. 28:Do not testify against your neighbor without cause, or use your lips to deceive.26:28 A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin. 27:2 Let another praise you, and not your own mouth, someone else, and not your own lips. 15: A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; 16: restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand. 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise man keeps himself under control. 20: Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him. 22: An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.
Do you see a constant in these verses? It seems that the tongue is our best way to prove to others whether we are foolish or wise! It is the quickest way into trouble, and the hardest thing to take back. It is the hardest and most important part of us to tame! We can not do that without the help of our Lord. Thank God He is with us always! Use the tongue to pray, praise and give thanks.
posted by Michael A. Redwine at Tuesday, January 25, 2005
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