The current sermon series at our church is based in the Old Testament book of Proverbs, also known as some of the "Wisdom Literature." It's just amazing how much of the book focuses on the tongue--how we use it, how we use our words--with many admonitions to be careful. Consider, for example, 4:24 - Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips." Among the seven things that are "detestable to [God]" are "haughty eyes [and] a lying tongue" (6:17).
In Chapter 10, we learn that "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise" (v19). (I talk too much!) "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment" (v20, 21).
The scriptural admonitions about the need to tame the tongue, choose our words wisely, and so on, are not limited to the Proverbs. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul admonishes believers to "put off falsehood and speak truthfully"; to let no "unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs"; to be kind to one another; not to sin in our anger; to "get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice; to "be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other..." (all found in Ephesians 4:25-32). In 5:4, he tells us, "Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."
James, an apostle and the brother of Jesus and leader of the early Christian Church, spoke of the need to tame the tongue, which he likens to a very small rudder of a ship, and to the spark of fire that can destroy an entire forest (3:3-6). "The tongue . . . corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell" (v6).
Contrary to what we learned as children, how we speak to or about other people is so important. Remember what we were told, as kids, when another child had said something unkind to us? "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." What a lie! In fact, Prov. 18:21 tells us "The tongue has the power of life and death." I'm not proud to admit this, but I had friends, in the past, who were actually in awe of my ability to cut someone down to size, verbally, in anger. But is that what I want on a grave marker? No. No.
Someone told me long ago that, as we humans age, we become increasingly the way we are when we are young; sweet people grow sweeter, angry people grow angrier and more crotchety, etc. I don't like the theory, because it leaves little or no room for people to learn and grow. Worse, it fails to take