Bite Your Tongue

We’ve probably all heard the phrase, “I had to bite my tongue.” Usually it is said at a time when someone really wants to say something they know isn’t best to say at the time and it is a struggle not to say it.

You’ve also probably heard the phrase, “Hold your tongue,” when someone is advising a person to not speak. It’s usually said in the context of someone wanting to say something they shouldn’t be saying or they have begun saying something and are told to stop speaking.

James 3:2-12 has some interesting things to say about the tongue. For example, verse 2 says that if anyone “doesn’t stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man.” Verse 5 says the tongue is a “small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things” and is described in verse 6 as a “fire” which “sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.” James continues in verse 7 by saying that all sorts of wild animals can be tamed but no one can tame the tongue.

The tongue can destroy relationships. Words spoken in anger or stress are most of the time regretted later after we’ve had time to think about them. How many times have you heard someone say (perhaps it was yourself), “I wish I hadn’t said that.” Remember, a quick tongue is not necessarily a gift.

Then there are the words of encouragement by Paul in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.” That’s sort of like saying, “Think about what you are about to say and ‘taste’ your words to see if they are seasoned properly.”

When our speech is “with grace” and “seasoned with salt” we will say things that are good and proper - or we will ‘bite our tongue’ and not say it at all. Sort of like when our parents told us, “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything.” (I hope that is still being taught.)

Our task as Christians is to edify one another and build each other up and be an example of the Light that is Jesus. Let’s be sure our words reflect that and pray that our tongues will be servants of the Most High God.

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony