No book reveals so drastically, and yet so truly, the perils of speech as the Scriptures.
The Tongue–a Fire
“The tongue is a fire” (Jas. 3:6)–sometimes slanderous, sometimes profane, sometimes idle, sometimes vindictive, sometimes angry–in each case it burns. The moment we have spoken what is wrong our moral system is consciously lowered. Our words cannot be recalled–“it setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
Words have effects remarkably like fire. Fire kindles fire, so evil words provoke more; fire scorches, so words can damage; fire consumes, so an evil whisper about another can blight the reputation of a lifetime; fire spreads, so a lie, an obscene song or foolish jest contaminates the whole person.
The Tongue–Poison
It is full of deadly poison (v. 8), which can even survive the tongue itself. The tongue can make a wound that will rankle long after the tongue that made it is dust, and even cause an estrangement between saints of God that is never healed.
The snapped bit, the broken rudder, the dropped match–and what damage ensues! Some of the greatest sins of history have been caused by the tongue. It was the tongue of Judas which betrayed the Lord, and the tongue of Peter which denied Him.
The Tongue–a Praise
How golden is the counterpart! The most wonderful teaching the world has ever heard came from the Saviour’s tongue. The gracious words proceeded from His lips; the Lord Jesus never wrote a book, He only spoke. All the praise God has ever had has ascended from the tongue.
The Tongue–a Power
Beyond all members the tongue is potent for good or evil. The tongue is a double-edged weapon; it is the most glorious and the most dangerous member of our body. “Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therefore curse we men…out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing” (vv. 9-10). On the Lord’s Day, hymns full of sacredness and praise; on the Monday, the angry, impatient word. Even an apostle, within a few hours of the Lord’s Supper and its hymn of praise, was pouring forth oaths and curses (Mt. 26:74). A person once said to John Wesley, “I pride myself on speaking my mind; that is my talent.” “Well,” said John Wesley, “the Lord would not mind if you buried that talent.”
Let us beware of being guilty of the duplicity which Scripture calls a “double tongue,” saying one thing to a man’s face, but another behind his back, idle words, boasting, flattery, backbiting, constant criticism, tale bearing, and other forms of tongue venom, with all their fearful consequences. What perils!
The Tongue–its Possibilities
Now the Holy Spirit reveals a golden possibility. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man” (v. 2); not sinless, but completely developed. Speech is as rapid as lightning, and therefore catches us completely off our guard. We need constantly to cry, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips” (Ps. 141:3).
Of one of the most wonderful groups of humanity revealed in the Scriptures, the body-escort of the Lamb, it is written: “And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault” (Rev. 14:5). So we covet the God-controlled mouth. Our words can be the means of pointing men to the Lamb of God, they can heal the broken-hearted, stimulate youth, build up the assembly of God, and otherwise magnify the Lord.