I was going to start off this blog with a “remember the phrase, Cat’s got your tongue…”
Then I went on a tangent of looking into who came up with it, and why.
The origin of things in this world can be insane. I’ll let you look that one up.
Think Before You Speak
There are so many platforms out there in which we can voice our opinions. Give a piece of our minds, and have our voices heard. There is a certain justification we feel when our words are being heard. At the same time, once said, our words are permanent. We can try to backtrack and apologize for the words that come out as “harsh” or “hurtful”. Sometimes what we are trying to say has too much emotion behind it. Our words can come out sounding more harsh or hurtful than intended because they’re said before being processed. Whereas they may come out more meaningful if we pause and process.
I can’t tell you how many times growing up I heard that I often spoke before I thought.
I still do, it’s a long-term habit I’m working on changing daily.
What the Bible Says
If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.
James 1:26 NLT
Indeed, we all make mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame on fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
James 3:2, 5-6 NLT
My Study Bible which is NIV leaves this knowledge drop –
Before you speak, remember that words are like fire – you can neither control nor reverse the damage they do.
Now, the book of James was written for the First- century Jewish Christians. They were residing in gentile communities outside of Judea. Its purpose was to expose hypocritical practices and to teach how Christians should live. It’s a little direct and to the point, very blunt. But honestly, maybe we need to get a little blunt with one another. Hold one another a little more accountable in today’s world. A world where we are trying to justify maybe too much that is going on around us.
Tamed Tongue
The tongue is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire…
Know this, I’m not judging anyone. It’s your life lived and the power of your tongue is between you and God. I’m just tossing out mere observations or thoughts, especially to those of us who live actively in the church.
What we say/share, carries weight.
Whether we say it behind a screen or out loud, people will perceive it differently because we are Christian.
How do we want to be perceived?
What type of language do we use?
What topics do we discuss (do they glorify God)?
How do we speak of others when they aren’t around, like our friends and spouses?
Are we starting the gossip mill or trying to squash it?
Are we bringing upon judgment that isn’t ours to give?
A while back I shared in another blog words to live by my favorite verse. It’s one I try my hardest to use when thinking of how I speak, or how I appear to those who are watching me in this life (like our littles)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8-9
When I carry this verse with me, it helps me to stop and think before I speak.
It’s like a checklist for my thoughts, words, and actions.
Now with that being said, I am human and it’s impossible to have perfection.
Yet at the same time, it should be something strived for daily.
It’s in the striving that we become more christ-like in our thoughts, words, and actions.
The tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches, let us use it to glorify God.