I have been working towards attempting to conquer some of my bad habits and I have succeeded in many areas but still lack progress in others. One area in which I am working towards improvement is to stop using profanity altogether. From childhood through adulthood I used profanity and it comes to me quite naturally. I think it is ignorant among other things and I very badly desire to stop using it. And believe it or not much progress has been made in that regard, but I still am a long way from being where I want to be and regard it as one of the most perplexing problems that I face.
I was searching the Bible looking for answers and found that I am not the only one who suffers from being able to control my tongue. In fact the Bible states that “No man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” In another verse it states, “For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body”.
It goes on to describe how our tongues are like a very small rudder on a huge ship. Even though driven by fierce winds a rudder is easily capable of steering the huge ship wherever it goes. I don’t like the sound of that because our tongues have been described in the Bible as being full of evil and logically that means this little rudder steers us towards evil and that is the opposite direction that I desire to go.
I think it helps to know how serious a problem is when planning a way to combat it. Every nation wants Intel prior to going to battle and the same is true when competing in business. Allow me to share my “Intel” with you: Untamable tongues produce profanity, gossiping, criticizing others, telling lies, bragging, and the like and are not conducive to a Christian life. Although we cannot achieve perfection we can improve everything that we really make our minds up to do (with the help of God) through the power of prayer.
The “unruly” tongue is one danger area to the lives of every Christian and one in which we should be cognizant. They say knowledge is power. With it great things can be achieved. You are now acutely aware of the dangers of the unruly tongue. Proceed with caution! And start today
James 3:5
Even so the tongue is a little
member and boasts great things.
see how great a forest a little fire
kindles.