Character and Discipline · Christian Life
Do we put a brake on our mouths?
4 min read, approximately
Matthew 15:18-20
“But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immorality, thefts, false testimonies, and blasphemies. These are the things that defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile a person.”
This mouth of mine!
Since the beginning of time, one of the things that has caused the most conflict among us is being very quick to speak and slow to listen.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19)
How many times have we said “Why did I say that?”? How much trouble have we gotten ourselves into?
Most of the time it is almost impossible to make up for the mistake!
It is vital to understand that God has given us the ability to keep our impulses from getting the better of us, and thus avoid getting ourselves into more trouble.
“From the fruit of a person’s mouth their stomach will be filled; they will be satisfied with the produce of their lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:20-21)
Types of brakes
This is a risky matter! That is why today we will learn from God’s Word how to put a brake on our mouths:
\1. The ‘Be quiet and think first’ brake
“Even a fool, when silent, is considered wise; whoever closes their lips is discerning.” (Proverbs 17:28)
otherwise,
“You have been ensnared by the words of your mouth and trapped by the sayings of your lips.” (Proverbs 6:2)
\2. The ‘Filter and choose the right words’ brake
“The wicked person digs for evil, and on their lips is something like a flame of fire. The perverse person stirs up strife, and a gossip separates the closest friends. The evil person flatters their neighbor and leads them down a bad path. They close their eyes to devise wickedness; they move their lips and bring evil about.” (Proverbs 16:27-30)
\3. The ‘Weigh our words with other people’ brake
“For we all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in speech, that person is perfect, able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2). Nevertheless, we can start somewhere: “I said: I will watch my ways, so that I do not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a bridle while the wicked are before me.” (Psalms 39:1)
\4. The ‘Weigh our words with God’ brake
“Because you raged against me and your arrogance has reached my ears, I will put my hook in your nose and my bridle on your lips, and make you return by the way you came.” (Isaiah 37:29). Therefore, “Do not let your mouth cause you to sin, nor say before the angel that it was ignorance. Why should you make God angry at your voice and cause him to destroy the work of your hands?” (Ecclesiastes 5:6)
And 5. The ‘Practice blessing others’ brake
“With it we bless God the Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be so. Does a spring pour out fresh and bitter water from the same opening? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives, or a vine figs? Neither can a spring give both salt water and fresh water.” (James 3:9-12)
Let us use the understanding the Lord has given us to take this advice. Only a fool will keep speaking recklessly until
“Your tongue devises harm; like a sharpened razor it works deceit. You loved evil more than good, lies more than truth. You have loved every kind of harmful word, deceitful tongue. Therefore, God will destroy you forever; he will lay you waste and tear you from your dwelling, and uproot you from the land of the living.” (Psalms 52:2-5)
What do you say? Shall we put a brake on our mouths?
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May God continue to bless you, and may you continue to have an excellent day in Christ Jesus!