God constantly warns us of the destruction our mouth and tongue cause, when our speech is not given to the Holy Spirit, for Proverbs 21:23 says, “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles; James 3:6-10 says, 6 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. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude (likeness) of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things should not be.
If James says, “…these things should not be”, then we understand Proverbs 24:10 that says, “If you faint (fail to act under pressure) in the day of adversity (conflict) your strength (authority and power) is small (narrow, weak)”, and Proverbs 25:26 says, “A righteous man who falters before the wicked is like a murky spring and a polluted well”.
James, therefore, is warning us to never allow the satanic spirits in a wicked person to overcome the Holy Spirit within us, but to use our mouth and tongue, to cast out that wicked spirit, but never to degrade or slander the character or reputation of the person through whom the satanic spirit is working.
Although we cannot tame our human mouth and tongue, but when we give our mouth and tongue to God who made them (Exodus 10:4-11), He will tell us what to say, when to say it, and how to say it, so it causes His will to be done, but we must listen to and obey God.
Now we can understand how God has already given us everything we need to live victorious in what Proverbs 16:1-33 commands of us.
Proverbs 16:1-33 (NLT)—1 We can make our own plans, but the LORD gives the right answer. 2 People may be pure in their own eyes, but the LORD examines their motives. 3 Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed. 4 The LORD has made everything for His own purposes, even the wicked for a day of disaster. 5 The LORD detests the proud; they will surely be punished. 6 Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the LORD, people avoid evil. 7 When people’s lives please the LORD, even their enemies are at peace with them. 8 Better to have little, with godliness, than to be rich and dishonest. 9 We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps. 10 The king speaks with divine wisdom; he must never judge unfairly. 11 The LORD demands accurate scales and balances; He sets the standards for fairness. 12 A king detests wrongdoing, for his rule is built on justice. 13 The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly. 14 The anger of the king is a deadly threat; the wise will try to appease it. 15 When the king smiles, there is life, his favor refreshes like a spring rain. 16 How much better to get wisdom than gold, and good judgment than silver! 17 The path of the virtuous leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe. 18 Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall. 19 Better to live humbly with the poor than to share plunder with the proud. 20 Those who listen to instruction will prosper; those who trust the LORD will be joyful. 21 The wise are known for their understanding, and pleasant words are persuasive. 22 Discretion is a life-giving fountain to those who possess it, but discipline is wasted on fools. 23 From a wise mind comes wise speech; the words of the wise are persuasive. 24 Kind words are like honey—sweet to the soul and healthy for the body. 25 There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. 26 It is good for workers to have an appetite; an empty stomach drives them on. 27 Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze. 28 A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends. 29 Violent people mislead their companions, leading them down a harmful path. 30 With narrowed eyes, people plot evil; with a smirk, they plan their mischief. 31 Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life. 32 Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. 33 We may throw the dice (cast the ballot), but the LORD determines how they fall (who wins).
Christians, members of Christ’s body, the church, should wait before the LORD, until we have His thoughts, and then only speak what He gives us, so He is honored, praised, and His will done, but we also know it is a life-time struggle of Bible study and submissive prayer, but it does accomplish what we could never accomplish with our own thoughts, words, and actions.
Jim Nabors
