The Power of the Tongue

When I was a child, every Christian home had a wall hanging which said: 'Christ is the Head of this House. The Unseen Guest at every meal. The Silent Listener to every conversation.' After some years, it disappeared from homes, I know not for what reason, but I believe it has a point.  It means that our everyday activities like eating and talking matter to Christ! People are often not thankful for the food on the table or the hands that made them, just like the Israelites, and are too quick to say nasty things.  If we realize that Christ is there with us, I am sure we will be on the best behavior for no one misbehaves in front of a guest!

Disturbed by the bad report brought by the ten spies, the people were complaining to each other about Moses and Aaron and weeping in their own homes (Numbers 14:1)!  The Lord said, "I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me …. just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you.  But your little ones, whom you said would-be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised.  But as for you, your carcasses shall fall in this wilderness” ( Numbers 14:27-31).  The Lord heard the negative confessions of their mouth and their complaints and judged them according to their own words!

Many times we do not realize the power of the tongue. Proverbs 18:21 says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit." The stakes are high. Our words can either speak life or speak death. The Bible has a lot to say about the tongue. James devotes an entire chapter to controlling the tongue. How we handle the tongue is an excellent indicator of our hearts before God.  James argues that if one can manage their tongue, they will control the rest of the body, as illustrated by the horse and ship (James 3:4). Even a single word can have a devastating effect on our lives.  Let us keep our words positive and our conversations clean!

My friend, words are powerful. Our words do matter. They affect our lives.  Even what we speak in private or to our spouse matters.  Let the prayer of the Psalmist become our prayer today, "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).

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