The tongue rodeo

I once had a dog that had a huge tongue.  She would allow it to hang out of her mouth like a giant pink towel emanating from the depths of her throat.  We thought it was great fun to try and grab it, and she would suck it back into her mouth and promptly stick it back out because she was hot and panting.  No matter how hard we tried, we couldn't hold her tongue and neither could she.

That's how we as humans sometimes are.  James 3 tells us that even though the tongue is small, it can be a grave danger.  James uses a lot of analogy to tell us that we shouldn't worship God with the same tongue that we use to curse and belittle other people.  Proverbs tells us that the power of life and death is in the tongue, and if you keep your mouth shut, you preserve your life, but he that opens it wide comes to ruin.  Also, Proverbs says that even if you use your tongue in a joking manner, it is like throwing fiery arrows of death!

Earlier on James says to be quick to listen, and slow to speak.

So, in turns out the Bible has a lot to say on the tongue, most of it not good.  So how do we go about taming our tongue?  Doesn't God know we really have a hard time controlling our tongues?  Sure He does that is why there is so much written about it.  Are we to cut out our own tongue in order to avoid sin?  Well even though Christ had mentioned plucking out your own eye, and cutting off your hand, it is more of hyperbole, and less about the actual physical act.  The principle is to control yourself.  Using the doughnut analogy again, don't go to the shop if you are diabetic!  I think the key to control of the tongue lies in everything the Bible says about it.

Step 1. Psalm 46:10 - Be Still and know He is God.  First two words, BE STILL.  Then meditate on the character of God.
Step 2. Let your words be few.  The less we talk, (and I love to talk) the less chance we have of sinning.  Ecclesiastes 5 tells us to let our words be few, and not to be rash with our heart.
Step 3. Breathe and then speak.  I think this boils down to think before you speak, but more importantly, this gives us a chance to listen.  Which is what James had said. Quick to listen, and slow to speak.

So let's all try to lasso our tongues and get them under control!  Think, then speak.