O that wicked and untamable tongue, how I wish it didn’t ramble on so and get me into so much trouble at times!  If you are like me, you have probably said something that as soon as you said it, you wish you could grab it in mid air and take it back, before it touches the ears of a friend or loved one. 

 

Is it not odd that at one moment we can be singing sweet praises to our Lord, then within minutes spew vile words of hatred to someone?  And all of this before we even leave the church parking lot on Sundays.  Our tongue, to be so small, sure can do a lot of slicing and dicing can’t it? 

 

In James chapter 3, the writer goes into great detail on how our tongue can get us into trouble and warns us to keep a close watch on what it says.  As believers we must learn to bridle our tongues — to control what it speaks.  Verse 2 speaks of this very thing to bridle our tongue.  Monitoring every word we speak, this may seem burdensome at first, even unnatural – but it will serve to our benefit and to God’s. 

 

Then in verses 9-12, James tells us to speak well of others.  Criticism, slander, backbiting, & gossip are “bitter waters,” which are subject to, believe it or not, demonic, worldly wisdom.   I don’t know about you, but this makes me want to make sure I guard my tongue!  Verses 9-12 address serious issues! 

 

Like my grandmother would always tell me it is better to keep quite and listen rather than speak foolish talk.