Tongue Tamers
It’s one of the most POWERFUL sets of muscles on the human body yet one of the smallest averaging about 3 inches long and 2.9-5 centimeters in diameter. Life and death is carried in it along with the power to create and destroy. We use it daily without even thinking it yet it takes much restraint to use it when someone cuts us off on the road or when our boss/colleagues becomes a COMPLETE jerk to us . What are these sets of muscles?
It’s our tiny but mighty TONGUE.
We live in a society where quick retorts, sharp counter words, or “clap backs” are HIGHLY regarded and praised when it comes to receiving words of offense in conflict. While it feels AMAZING to tell that individual about themselves so much that they’ll be choking on their words, just know that what we say and HOW we say it will cause us to be in the same position doing double damage not only to them but to ourselves. If we’re not careful, our words can cause so much damage that is WAY BEYOND repair.
You’re probably thinking, “Okay, fair enough but I’m NOT a doormat or pushover. I won’t let anyone talk to me any kind of way.” Guess what? You’re right! You shouldn’t have to. However, you can comeback just as effective but with love, grace, and restraint. In fact, we have a model that did it PERFECTLY.
Remember Jesus? All throughout the gospels, Jesus had to deal with the hypocritical, prideful; Pharisees who CONSTANTLY had something negative to say for every little thing that He and disciples did. What made matters worse is that they even had the nerve to repeatedly insult Him after He revealed to them Who He was causing unnecessary conflict.
Jesus always had a quick comeback using truth, wisdom, grace, and love while convicting and putting the Pharisees in their places. He used so much restraint and control with his tongue in dealing with them. That action ALONE is worth praising Him. Now, I know Jesus is 100% God but I also know that He’s 100% human. I’m very sure in His humanness, He may have felt the urge in His tongue to break the Pharisees down to a fraction and crush them into a decimal point with His words. However, He didn’t.
In the book of James chapter 3, we get a powerful reminder and warning about how strong and powerful our small tongue is. In fact, our tongue is called a fire, a world of iniquity, and an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (James 3:6, 8). In our sinful nature, it is so MUCH easier to use our tongue to belittle, slander, and curse someone or something. As I write this, I can honestly attest having some spicy sass in my tongue from time to time especially in conflict. Nonetheless, I should always ask myself, “What would Jesus say?”
“If we are in Christ, we are to use our tiny but mighty muscle in our mouth with restraint but also with truth, love, and wisdom NO MATTER WHAT!”
Here’s the bottom line: If we are in Christ, we are to use our tiny but mighty muscle in our mouth with restraint but also with truth, love, and wisdom NO MATTER WHAT! Our tongues should be used to build, strengthen, and encourage one another. Most importantly, used to praise God and give Him thanks. We already live in a world where tongues are being used to loosely spread lies, evil, and other horrible things. In what ways can you be the light, the difference, when using your tongue especially in challenging situations? God is in you and you have the power. If you can learn with The Holy Spirit’s help to master your powerful but tiny tongue, there’s no limit to what else you can master in Him.