The Tongue

Read the following verses and fill in the chart on the next page.

Prov 10:11
11        The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked. (NIV)

Prov 13:3
3          He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. (NIV)

Prov 13:2‑3
2          From the fruit of his lips a man enjoys good things, but the unfaithful have a craving for violence.
3          He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin. (NIV)

Prov 15:3‑4
3          The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.
4          The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. (NIV)

Prov 15:23
23        A man finds joy in giving an apt reply‑‑ and how good is a timely word! (NIV)

Prov 15:28‑29
28        The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.
29        The LORD is far from the wicked but he hears the prayer of the righteous. (NIV)

Prov 16:23‑24
23        A wise man's heart guides his mouth, and his lips promote instruction.
24        Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (NIV)

Prov 16:27‑28
27        A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire.
28        A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends.
(NIV)

Prov 20:15
15        Gold there is, and rubies in abundance, but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel. (NIV)

Righteousness                                         Sinfulness

Results                                                    Results

New Testament Application

James 3:1‑12

1          Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.
2          We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

Is it fair that the teacher be held to a higher standard? Why?

Why is there a relationship between my character and the words I say?

Illustrations: Importance of the Tongue

3          When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
4          Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
5          Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.

Power of the Tongue

6          The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Was there a time you really felt bad about something you said?  What were the results?

7          All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man,
8          but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Let's think together of some practical things we can do to keep our tongue under control.

Integrity and the Tongue

9          With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.
10        Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
11        Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?
12        My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (NIV)

What is this saying about our lives as Christians?

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