Sticks and Stones, and the Tongue
Sticks and Stones, and the Tongue
“Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.”
James 3:3
There was a nursery rhyme that went like this;
Sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
It was designed to help children who were bullied. To help encourage them to be strong against hurtful words.
I’d take the sticks and stones over the tongue any day.
It’s interesting to me that out of all the parts of the body, the one part to cause the most trouble is one of the smallest. The tongue.
But it’s also one, that if used correctly can soothe and comfort and provide encouragement.
The chapter continues in verse 10 “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.”
I used to be really shy and introverted. I couldn’t stand to look people in the eye when I talked to them.
I worked in retail for a long time before going into law enforcement. About twenty years of my life was spent in retail. I worked at some of the big box, top fortune 100 retailers. I remember this store manager once asked me to help him with a morning meeting. Usually my job was to organize chairs, get some small items together and be an errand person if he needed anything. About ten minutes before the meeting he told me that some folks from corporate were coming to the store and he wanted me to run the meeting. I almost passed out. I actually thought about quitting.
I stammered and stuttered through the meeting, which was about thirty minutes long and I had to keep people from falling asleep or walking off.
It was a poor, poor example of motivational speaking. I don’t think I was asked to give another morning meeting.
I was in my late twenties at the time. Since then I held various retail positions in management and leadership and worked in law enforcement as an instructor and trainer. I learned along the way that effective speech can be powerful - and dangerous.
Our tongue has the ability to taste. On one side it can taste sweet things and the other side can taste bitter things. It has the ability to form speech. And it’s the last point where words that are formed come out of our mouth. We can use the muscles in our face to close our mouth and to stop us from speaking. So why don’t we? In my case, it was probably because I thought less and spoke more.
I was an exceptional teacher and instructor. This isn’t my arrogance, I had people tell me all the time that I was really good at it. I developed this skill over time. And I also learned how horrible I could tear someone down with just my words. It was someone I didn’t want to be. My words were being used for all the wrong things.
I still catch myself being brash, arrogant or prideful in things I say. It’s wrong. Our words should convey the glory we have for God. No matter what the subject is. Our written, verbal and intended communication should all be bound to the reverence we have for God. We should take more time using our tongue for good, than bad.
I was looking at an Instagram post this morning and it was filled with profanity. To many, it’s just another post, just the way it is, an acceptable form of communication. People see nothing wrong with being profane.
I used to use profanity a lot. I thought that using profanity was a way of exclaiming what I was saying. It made it more important, more exciting. I felt like I was more of a man because I was cursing. I wouldn’t curse in front of my children, I wouldn’t curse in front of my superiors or in court. I wouldn’t curse around family members.
So I guess I either thought less of the other people I was around or I didn’t care. Man, what a whacky way of thinking. Either way, profanity just makes you (and I) look dumb. You don’t realize how much people use profanity until you stop using it. Fact. And if you have never or rarely used profanity, when you hear it, it sounds an like awful screeching sound.
Think about the things you say and why you say them. Is what you are saying building someone up or tearing them down? Is it encouraging them or helping them in some way?
Would you say the same thing if that person was in front of you?
And lastly, think about the last time you encouraged someone, did you point them to your walk with God?
Our tongue can be used to say so many good things. Don’t let yours be used for evil.
“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.”
2 Timothy 2:16
“Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.”
Psalms 52:2-4