The Tongue - Edition #24: Insults, Sin, and Reckless Words - Repost with additions

May 1st, 2006

The Tongue – Edition #24: Insults, Sin, and Reckless Words – Repost with additions

Proverbs 12:13-23
An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble. From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things as surely as the work of his hands rewards him. The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. A truthful witness gives honest testimony, but a false witness tells lies. Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. There is deceit in the hearts of those who plot evil, but joy for those who promote peace. No harm befalls the righteous, but the wicked have their fill of trouble. The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful. A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts out folly.

Prudent (adj.):

1. Wise in handling practical matters; exercising good judgment or common sense.


2. Careful in regard to one's own interests; provident.


3. Careful about one's conduct; circumspect.

It’s good to know that a lie only lasts but a moment. I went to Best Buy today after church… my heart yearned to reach out… but circumstance really got in the way. Oh my goodness, was it so hard to get the rig-a-ma-roo out of the way. But it was fun to even entertain the idea for just a little bit in my mind. There was this family looking at cameras while we were there, and I wanted to invite them, but my son desired attention at that moment. And then the opportunity was gone for the family was gone. I guess it is important to ask when the thought hits and not a second longer. I’ve had a quiet time every day this year, which is now 120 days in… this is actually just a two days short of 1/3 of the year into 2006… which is impressive to say the least. Last year (my best year on record), I had already missed 4 by this time.

OK – This stuff is new… everything above was from 4/30/06. I have a good friend that I talk to on the phone on occasion, actually, I’ve talked to him a few times this week… a really great guy. And he has encouraged me a good deal… I am going to post my CR journal online here, maybe a bit edited, I am not sure… I need to be wise in how I do it… but I still think it is good to revisit it. I know it has been a long time since I have read it. I did a random search for a definition of a word…

Cordial (adj.):

1. Warm and sincere; friendly.

This scripture in Proverbs… 11 verses… all about how one should conduct his speech. And it brings my mind back to a message just a week ago yesterday. Todd had said that when a fig tree has leaves, it should have fruit. I do wonder if someone had come earlier and picked the fruit ahead of Jesus, being the unfortunate for the tree. But alas, the tree had leaves, and not fruit… and thus was useless.

Matthew 21:18-22
Early in the morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

I guess the only fruit it had left in it at that point was warmth for the winter. The whole “weeping and gnashing of teeth.” My wife and I were talking about that yesterday… I told her, I don’t know what that is, but I don’t want to find out. It don’t sound pleasant. Only two books use the combo “weeping and gnashing”, Matthew and Luke, for a combined seven times (a perfect number).

The “fruit of his lips” keeps popping in my head. So what is fruit?

Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

This could cause another study completely just on the fruit of the lips, being the fruit of the spirit. But what I would like to do is do a simple rewording of this first verse listed above. The fruit of the lips is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. It does put a spin on things. I can be quick tempered at times… and when I say “at-times”, I mean quite often. I’m not as quick as I used to be, but I still do have my moments. This is what the bible says about love.

1st Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

This is what the bible says about joy:

Philippians 2:1-4
If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

This is what the bible says about peace:

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.

This is what the bible says about patience:

Proverbs 19:11
A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

James 5:7-11
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't grumble against each other, brothers, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

This is what the bible says about kindness:

Zechariah 1:12-13
Then the angel of the LORD said, “LORD Almighty, how long will you withhold mercy from Jerusalem and from the towns of Judah, which you have been angry with these seventy years?” So the LORD spoke kind and comforting words to the angel who talked with me.

Also, the book of Ruth is a very good example of just what kindness is all about. This is what the bible says about goodness:

Psalm 69:13-16
But I pray to you, O LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, O God, answer me with your sure salvation. Rescue me from the mire, do not let me sink; deliver me from those who hate me, from the deep waters. Do not let the floodwaters engulf me or the depths swallow me up or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.

This is what the bible says about faithfulness:

3rd John 1:2-4
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

This is what the bible says about gentleness:

Ephesians 4:1-6
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope when you were called — one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

2nd Corinthians 10:1
By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you…

And this is what the bible says about self-control:

Proverbs 25:28
Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

1st Thessalonians 5:4-11
But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

So, with all these things in mind, going back to the thought: “The fruit of the lips is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” Love is the center-piece in all this, at least that is what I get from 1st Corinthians. To have fruitful joy, there has to be a like-mindedness with God. Peacemakers are the sons of God… which is an amazing blessing. I would guess to be a peacemaker is to simply forgive others and to teach others how to forgive, which isn’t the easiest of tasks. Patience is looking over an offense to the greater good ahead. It’s also knowing that tomorrow is another day. Just because today sucks, doesn’t guarantee tomorrow will. We don’t know what tomorrow will bring for us, specifically, so we should be patient and humble about the matter, rejoicing in what God has given us today. Again, not the easiest thing to do but that is why it is called patience. Even though God was angry with Jerusalem, he still was able to speak “kind and comforting words.” And that, I would say is what the heart of kindness is… a commitment to do the good things even when everyone else has failed in there commitment. Ruth stayed with Naomi through thick and thin and it was considered kindness. Boaz calls Ruth kind by her deeds. Naomi calls Boaz kind by his deeds. And then their speech backs it up. Goodness is there to help cover up inequities. The later part of that verse, “in your great mercy”: I just see great as a step up from good. It’s not good, it’s great. Out of the goodness of your mouth, help me out, God. Just say the words, and it’s a done deal. And that’s all that needs to happen. That needs to be my heart, my attitude, and my mouth. The faithfulness of others… is the hot topic these days? In many cases, it is. We like to hear how other Christians that we haven’t seen in a while are doing… and it’s a good thing. It’s a heart warmer, for the most part, that is, if the news is well. I know I get fired up to hear my friends are walking right. Gentleness of the lips, now this is a doozy because it entitles meekness, humbleness, as well as the title itself of being gentle. And really, who gets excited about being meek in this day and age? But if you look at the definition, do I need to list anything else?

Meek (adj.):

1. Showing patience and humility; gentle.


2. Easily imposed on; submissive.

Meek is being humble and being gentle. It is simply being submissive. And having a submissive tongue in the United States? You can look hard, long, and wide… and it may come down to the whole Abraham trying to spare the town of Sodom. Is there any meekness anymore? Actually, I think so, but it is really a rare to find. And as for self-control, without it, I have no defense. A city without a wall. A country without an military. Having self-control is being alert and ready. It’s putting on faith and love, so when an attack should come, I simply defend with? FAITH AND LOVE! Hope is always on my mind (helmet). And should I need to respond, I have the bible at the ready (it’s the sword). OK, so this has been a lengthy study for today (and some of it was yesterday’s), so I have really learned a lot… it’s been rather exciting, actually. But alas, Johnny Out.