The Danger of the Tongue

       We understand that sin is sin. There is no big sin or small sin to GOD. It is all sin. Although there is one sin referred to as the "unforgivable sin. We also see in several scriptures that there are some sins that really cheese GOD off in a special way. Lying is one such sin. I have seen in scripture that lying is especially dangerous.
       In Romans 13:9 Paul writes a list of exceptional no no's. "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
       Lying is the fourth thing on the list! Of all the sins Paul could have mentioned being dishonest is number four!
       James 3:5-8 puts it this way; "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison."
       Do we consider our words before they come out of our mouth? Some people say they just tell it like it is. Is that always the Godly way to respond? No. What's the big deal? I have learned a valuable lesson in this life. Even those tiny little lies we tell to spare someone's feelings are dangerous. When a person finds out you lied to them or about them it can really be painful. They may not bleed. But you have stuck an emotional dagger in their back. Friendships can be broken over this very thing. Churches have divided over this same concept.
       An old saying says that, "the pen is mightier than the sword". The pen delivers words. How much more dangerous is the tongue? It can deliver words before they can ever be proofread. It is an emotional sword.
       This is why CHRIST said in Matthew 15:18 , "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man."
And Paul said in Ephesians 4:29, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
Honesty is the way to go. Sometimes the truth can be painful. But lies hurt even more when they are discovered. And they will be discovered.
       And what about gossip? Well it's just as bad. Sometimes it contains some truth. But rarely do the people involved in gossip know the whole truth. And the omission of parts of the truth is the same as a lie and can be just as dangerous and just as painful.
       James 3:18 says, "And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace."
       I hope this will encourage all of us to think before we speak.
       Here are a couple more to consider;
       Proverbs 17:28 "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding."
       Proverbs 18:13 "He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him."
       So listen more, speak less, and tell the truth.
       Peace and blessings.
       Shannon