“If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” (James 1:26-27 NLT)
James’ obvious context when he writes of “religion,” is the best version of the Christian Faith. Caring for others, especially those who are struggling to care for themselves is and always has been a key element for those of us who love and follow Jesus.
It’s interesting to me that James speaks of controlling our tongue in that same context when he writes of “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father.” Isn’t that our heart as earnest seekers of the Lord Jesus? To be pure and genuine in our pursuit of our Savior? What does that mean? What might it look like in practical ways?
Might it mean being quiet when what we’re about to say isn’t uplifting, encouraging, healing, hopeful, or helpful? Perhaps we’re angry because of something that happened in another context, but now we’re home and we’re feeling like we need to “let it out!” And that can be fine if handled in the right way. But when our anger and bitterness ignite our tongue, and like wildfire, burns up all in its path, it’s wrong and dishonors the Lord.
Craig Groeschel speaks to this when he writes: “Never trust your tongue when your heart is bitter.” Much of the heartache over which I agonize is the result of speaking when I should have remained silent; when I’ve said hurtful things in the wrong context, in the wrong way, or in the wrong spirit. And here’s the kicker, if I’m truthful, I wasn’t seeking to hurt anyone, and what I said was the truth as I saw it, but when even truth is spoken in a harsh, thoughtless, angry, or inappropriate way, it can cause far more harm than good.
Controlling our tongue isn’t a simple human endeavor. It requires Holy Spirit intervention and control. A simple technique I learned can save us a lot of heartache if we’ll practice and learn its value. Simply pause before we speak. Lift to the Lord a 10-15 second plea to help us say what is helpful and to not say anything that would be hurtful, but most importantly, anything that would be dishonoring to Him.
If we’ll take a deep breath, turning our thoughts to the Lord, it can make a huge difference in the outcome of our conversation. That same process has also proven helpful at times when I’m beginning a project, beginning an exam, starting out on a trip, and many other circumstances. Getting in the habit of seeking the Lord’s input in every circumstance of our lives will not only prevent us from making a lot of mistakes, it will also deepen our love and appreciation of our Savior and best Friend.
Controlling our tongue is a spiritual exercise that not only protects our relationships but builds our character and enhances our witness for the Lord. Think of the relationships that may have been salvaged if we’d kept quiet in those critical moments.
One additional thought. Sensitivity to a person’s needs, not simply their words is often a key. Sometimes the venom that flows in a conversation with us, that we tend to take too personally, isn’t even about us. If we’ll just be quiet and listen, we can be a soothing balm to a scorched and hurting spirit. When conversations fuel our anger and stir our emotions, those are critical times when we can’t trust our tongue.
Food for thought.
Blessings, Ed 😊
Walking With Jesus 