Anger and outward elation and cursing all gushed from the same fountain of weakness.”
–John Deacon (Justice Returns)
“Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
–Psalm 141:3 (NIV)
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“The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, But the perverse tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverse.” –Proverbs 10:31-32 (NKJV)
Much of Proverbs deals with wisdom. There is much foolishness, evil, and mockery in the world in which we live, therefore wisdom is needed as never before. However, there is more to wisdom than just the sayings. Bob Beasley points out, “It’s not just what we say that shows forth wisdom, it’s how we say it, when we say it, where we say it, and to whom we say it.” The Scripture reminds us that “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” (James 1:26, NIV) I often cringe when I’m out in public at the terrible language that flows from the mouths of people, and even on social media, the verbiage is garbage. Luke speaks directly to this issue, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (6:45, ESV) That which fills his heart will come forth from his mouth.
The righteous man speaks properly and truthfully, his opposite, the perverted person speaks profanity, foolishness, and blasphemy. The righteous will praise God in all he does, including what he says, the perverted will be “cut off” (or have his tongue “cut out”) The perverted heart is warped and full of deception. It is at war against the kingdom of God and the righteous and will do what it can to stop or mock it, whether it is a corrupt lifestyle, confusion and chaos, or false ideologies including that of twisting Scripture. The perverted tongue can cause the righteous to “feel dirty” and in need of a spiritual bath. We live in the world, and it dirties up (note the laver in the tabernacle), thus we need to be cleansed and being with the community of believers helps to do that.
Righteousness, as is perversion, is an attitude, a lifestyle. Both know what is acceptable–one purposely speaks what is evil, the other what is good. Know this, the perverse will be cut down, “There shall, at last, be the silence of shame and confusion” (Edward Plumptre) The righteous knows what words are acceptable to God; they know how to approach Him and how to represent Him. The Ephesians must have had a problem with their mouth, for Paul sends them two direct messages, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” (4:29, ESV) The NKJV translates it this way, as “is good for necessary edification.” He then pens again in 5:4, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” (ESV) Paul reminds the church at Colossae, that they must “put away…slander and obscene talk from their mouth.” (3:8, ESV)
One time I was with a group of boys going on a campout. One of the kids had a loose mouth and the man in charge took out one of those little bars of soap found in motels and stuck it in his mouth with the wrapping on, not wanting to alarm the kids too badly, and left it there. The leader forgot and the boy sat there with the bar in his mouth until the paper began to dissolve and suds began to appear. Needless to say, he watched his words (I wonder if he watched his heart?) Perhaps, no, we need some “spiritual soap” placed in the mouths of so many in today’s world for they cannot speak without some kind of filth spewing forth.
A good tree will bear good fruit. Are you watching your words, your attitude, your actions? Are they pleasing to your Lord and Savior? Michael Jermin said, “The righteous man speaketh that which pleaseth God and pleaseth man, and he speaks it in a pleasing manner.”