There are different types of communication, but the most complex one is oral communication. There is a reason why we are given just one tongue. Unfortunately, this one tongue has been used by many to damage so many things. The character of a person had been assassinated. Many people have lost hope in life because of the words spoken to them. We are given two ears and one tongue, to listen more and talk less. So many times, we say too much because we have not learnt the secret of minding our language. With proper training, written communication can be relatively problem-free. With a bit of discipline, body communication may be well managed. But oral communication could be as dangerous as explosives. The Bible says,
“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James 3:6.
The tongue, the explosive part of your body, is not replaceable. You are stuck with your tongue forever. Our tongue, which is part of our body, is a lethal weapon. The tongue can cause a great inferno, burning up oneself and others. Homes, churches, and relationships had been burnt up because of the wrong use of the tongue. Parents have misused the tongue to destroy children and vice versa. Churches are not immune to this menace. Marriages have been destroyed because of the wrong use of the tongue. If this tongue is not controlled and tamed, it will continue to cause significant damage and destruction. Ironically, it is neither big nor long, nor is it conspicuous. It is about 3.1 inches in women and about 3.3 inches in men. It has no bones, so it is soft and looks harmless. Yet, fire is stored in this soft part of the body. It is more baffling when we realize that many big and dangerous animals can be tamed, but no one has succeeded in taming the tongue. Ridiculous, but it is true. The Bible says,
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” James 3:7-8.
Come to think about having deadly poison as part of your body. Unbelievable, but that is the case with the tongue. Another shocking information about the tongue is its craftiness and manipulation. Imagine how the tongue can switch from praising God one second to cursing a fellow human being the next second. The Bible says,
“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. James 3:9-10.
Imagine how in church we sing and praise the LORD. But that same person who praises the LORD can also curse a fellow human being. That person can backbite and still hug the same person. The Bible says this must not be so. We are to be truthful in our words.
THE ORIGIN OF THE WORDS WE SPEAK IN OUR TONGUE
But when we think about it, words do not just come from the mouth; they originate from the heart. The heart is the fountain, and the words are the streams. If the heart is corrupt and evil, then the words will be evil. Cruel words are the natural products of a wicked heart, just as streams are the overflowing of the spring. Our words reflect our spiritual condition. What language do you speak? The language of vipers or the language of a good man. The Bible says,
“You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matthew 12:34-37.
CURE FOR THE TONGUE
Whatever is in the heart is what the mouth will speak out. If we can work on our hearts, good and sincere things will start to come out of our mouths. The Word of God is the only power that can cure our hearts. It is the power that can reach where no one else can ever get. If the heart is healed, then healthy words start to flow from our hearts to the tongue. What medication can cure our hearts? The answer is in the Bible, which says,
“For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.
The Word of God has life in it and is very powerful; its sharpness cannot be compared to any weapon. It can pierce and cut its way right to where the heart and spirit meet, and enter into the bone and cut into the marrow and judge the desires and thoughts of one’s heart. The word of God that will cut its way through and enter into the bone will be painful. But the pain will bring out the best in us because it will remove the spiritual sicknesses and make us spiritually healthy. The outcome of this will be healthy words coming out of our mouths. It will work together for our good.
The word of God brings comfort and joy, assurance and faith, but also, the word of God deals with our weaknesses, bringing rebuke and correction. When we accept the rebuke and correction of God through the Bible, the Bible, which is a two-edged sword, will kill all the poison of the viper in us. We will start to speak life to ourselves and everyone around us. The incredible thing is that we will begin to reflect the nature of God. Let us all start to speak the correct language that brings healing and joy to others by allowing the Word of God to work on our hearts.