Do you ever take stock of how powerful speech—what you say—is?
T he tongue is a small member but can cause a forest fire.
It can also be seen as like the rudder of a huge ship
As Scripture teaches,
Proverbs 18:21 — Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Proverbs 13:3 — He who guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
Proverbs 21:23 — He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.
Proverbs 12:18 — There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
James 3:5–6 — So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell.”
Some good points recently posted on the social-media site Quora:
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Be silent – in the heat of anger.
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Be silent – when you don’t have all the facts.
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Be silent – when you haven’t verified the story.
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Be silent – if your words will offend a weaker person.
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Be silent – when it is time to listen.
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Be silent – when you are tempted to make light of holy things.
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Be silent – when you are tempted to joke about sin.
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Be silent – if you would be ashamed of your words later.
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Be silent – if your words would convey the wrong impression.
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Be silent – if the issue is none of your business.
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Be silent – when you are tempted to tell an outright lie.
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Be silent – if your words will damage someone else’s reputation.
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Be silent – if your words will damage a friendship.
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Be silent – when you are feeling critical.
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Be silent – if you can’t say it without screaming.
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Be silent – if your words will be a poor reflection of your friends and family.
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Be silent – if you may have to eat your words later.
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Be silent – if you have already said it more than one time.
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Be silent – when you are tempted to flatter a wicked person.
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Be silent – when you are supposed to be working instead.
“WHOEVER GUARDS HIS MOUTH AND TONGUE KEEPS HIS SOUL FROM TROUBLES”
James 3:8–10 — But no human being can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so.
James 1:26 — If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain.
Proverbs 15:1 — A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:4 — A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Proverbs 10:19 — When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 16:24 — Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Colossians 4:6 — Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer every one.
Matthew 12:34 — You brood of vipers! how can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Matthew 12:36–37 — I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they speak; for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Luke 6:45 — The good man out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil man out of his evil treasure produces evil; for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Psalms 141:3 — Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Psalms 34:12–13 — What man is there who desires life, and covets many days, that he may enjoy good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit.
Ephesians 4:29 — Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for edifying, as fits the occasion, that it may impart grace to those who hear.