Marsha's Musings: More on The Tongue (James 3:6-12 NKJV)

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. (James 3:6-12 NKJV)

Wow.  This is convicting!  How often have I said things that are not nice about others?  How often have I gossiped?  How often have I said things on social media that should not have been said? No matter how often I determine to do better, something still flies out of my mouth, or my fingers (social media) that shouldn't. 

It is true, no man can tame the tongue or the fingers that type what they shouldn't or the pen that writes what it should not.  It all comes from the heart.  The heart is the issue and these things are only windows to the heart.  My dad says, "Even a fool is considered wise when he holds his tongue."  There much wisdom in that.  

Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. (Proverbs 17:28 NKJV)