A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:4
When the tongue is guided by the Spirit of God and by the words of the Holy Scripture, it can impart truth and elicit thoughts which may be salutary to those who come under their influence. God planted the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9), and whoever ate from it—whether man or animal—would find life. Today, where can we find the tree of life?
According to Proverbs 15:4, it can be found from the wholesome speech that flows out from a man’s tongue. An unwholesome tongue on the other hand brings forth death. The Bible commands, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph. 4:29, NIV).
What are unwholesome talks?
(1) Foul language. “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave” (Ps. 5:9, NLT). This kind of language produces death. As believers, we ought not to allow our mouths to speak any curses or foul language because we sing praises to God with our mouth. “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh”
(James 3:10-12).
(2) Lies. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish” (Prov. 19:9). Lying does not benefi t the hearers; it also brings death to the one who lies. Acts 5 gives a very solemn account of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit, and were immediately struck dead. King David says, “He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence” (Ps. 101:7). Similarly, God who has veracity would not allow a liar to continue in His presence.
(3) Gossip. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul warned that in the last days, perilous times will come and we are to stay away from a particular group of people—slanderers. Slanderers are malicious gossipers. The name “Devil” (Gr. diabolos) means one who slanders another for the purpose of injury; a maligner. When you gossip, you are associating yourself with the devil. In 1 Timothy 5:11-15, Paul warns Timothy of some younger widows who “learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies,” that they have “turned aside after Satan.” Gossip never brings life but death. Decide today to guard your tongue. Set it apart to speak wholesome words that bring life and grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
When the tongue is guided by the Spirit of God and by the words of the Holy Scripture, it can impart truth and elicit thoughts which may be salutary to those who come under their influence. God planted the tree of life in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 2:9), and whoever ate from it—whether man or animal—would find life. Today, where can we find the tree of life?
According to Proverbs 15:4, it can be found from the wholesome speech that flows out from a man’s tongue. An unwholesome tongue on the other hand brings forth death. The Bible commands, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph. 4:29, NIV).
What are unwholesome talks?
(1) Foul language. “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave” (Ps. 5:9, NLT). This kind of language produces death. As believers, we ought not to allow our mouths to speak any curses or foul language because we sing praises to God with our mouth. “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh”
(James 3:10-12).
(2) Lies. “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish” (Prov. 19:9). Lying does not benefi t the hearers; it also brings death to the one who lies. Acts 5 gives a very solemn account of Ananias and Sapphira who lied to the Holy Spirit, and were immediately struck dead. King David says, “He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence” (Ps. 101:7). Similarly, God who has veracity would not allow a liar to continue in His presence.
(3) Gossip. In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, Paul warned that in the last days, perilous times will come and we are to stay away from a particular group of people—slanderers. Slanderers are malicious gossipers. The name “Devil” (Gr. diabolos) means one who slanders another for the purpose of injury; a maligner. When you gossip, you are associating yourself with the devil. In 1 Timothy 5:11-15, Paul warns Timothy of some younger widows who “learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies,” that they have “turned aside after Satan.” Gossip never brings life but death. Decide today to guard your tongue. Set it apart to speak wholesome words that bring life and grace to the hearers. Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
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