What An Ungoverned Tongue Will Do

 

 

"...when men by their evil words shall be condemned at God's bar their mouths will be their destruction, and it will be such an aggravation of their ruin as will not admit one drop of water, one drop of comfort, to cool their tongue, which is their snare and will be their tormentor." - Matthew Henry Commentary

 

Proverbs 11:11 mentions a city being overthrown. What that entails is it being torn down...broken down...plucked down...laid in ruins...or utterly destroyed.

 

Who is responsible for this great destruction?

What deadly weapons would bring about such a catastrophe?

 

This same verse gives us the answer - "By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked."

 

The "wicked" are the culprits and their "mouth" is the tool of destruction.

 

Imagine that! You might have expected some other means to be used to break down or tear down an entire city. Yet, the Scripture informs us that it is "the mouth of the wicked" which does the job.

 

We all know that a man's speech reflects his true character or the actual condition of his heart. 

 

Notice what the Lord Jesus said to the Pharisees in Matthew 12:33-35 - "Either make the tree good, and the fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things."  

 

Proverbs 18:21 adds - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

 

So many - in quoting the above verse - apply it to a positive or negative confession. In other words, speak positive things about your life - certainly avoiding all negatives.

 

However, in this message, we would like to argue that God intended for us to take matters further than the simple words of our mouths. "Death" is found in words that proceed from a wicked heart, while "Life" proceeds from a pure heart. For example, one can attempt to confess positive things all day for his life, but what about the lies, trickery, deceit, cutting remarks, arrogant comments, belittling or demeaning statements, gossip, slander, foolishness, off-color jokes, and sexual innuendos that proceed from the same mouth? We can train our mouths to confess positive things all day long, but unless our "trees" or hearts are pure, we cannot stop the evil deluge of words that will pour out of our mouths - "...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh..." 

 

Looking back at Proverbs 11:11, we see the "fruit" of the "upright" and the "fruit" of the "wicked" - "By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted: but it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked."

 

What comes forth from the "upright"? "Blessing"

What comes forth from the "wicked"? Destruction and ruin

 

What is the result of the "upright" man's godly lifestyle which leads him to pray for his city...preach and teach the Truth of God's Holy Word...fight for justice for all...or plead the cause of the innocent and  helpless? "the city is exalted"

 

What is the result of the "wicked" man's lifestyle which causes him to speak hurtful things to his fellow man...enact selfish and ungodly laws...boast in his own accomplishments...lie to or cheat his neighbor... blaspheme his Creator and Maker...corrupt others or ruin their virtue with his filthy or lewd conversation... or call forth the judgment of the Almighty through his arrogant retorts against the Bible or God's people? The city "is overthrown."

 

Exactly how do the "wicked" destroy their city with their mouths?

 

These who are public nuisances and a plague and burden to their generation use several means.

The Scriptures point them out for us.

 

Proverbs 12:18 says - "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword..."

 

The "wicked" blab out cutting remarks...harsh or provoking insults..as well as belittling comments which grieve the spirit of others and cut them to their hearts.

 

Proverbs 15:2 tells us - "...but the mouth of fools poureth our foolishness."

 

These "fools" belch out very offensive, disgusting, and filthy remarks - in the name of jest of course(?!).

 

Proverbs 15:28 says - "...but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things."

 

They spue out rash and reckless abominations from their wicked hearts which dishonor God and hurt others.

 

Proverbs 18:6 says - "A fool's lips enter into contention..."

 

These quarrelsome ones have a contentious personality. Without any cause or call, they enter into constant fights or invite trouble with their provoking words.

 

Proverbs 18:7 says - "A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul."

 

What these "fools" say ruins them and brings destruction to themselves and sadly to others. 

Their rash language ensnares them - bringing them all kinds of trouble, misfortune, and calamity.

 

Proverbs 18:6 concludes with - "A fool's lips...and his mouth calleth for strokes."  

 

Their mouths spue forth such wickedness which deserves to be punished or needs to be checked and restrained with "beatings" of some sort.  

 

While the "wicked" overthrow the city, the "upright" "exalt" or uplift it.

 

How do they do that?

 

Proverbs 12:18 says - "...but the tongue of the wise is health."

Proverbs 15:2 says - "The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright..."

Proverbs 15:28 adds - "The heart of the righteous studieth to answer..."

 

In contrast to the "wicked," the "upright" speak God's Word which soothes, cures, heals, makes whole again, and restores. They use their knowledge well. They give out suitable, seasonable, and sensible instruction and counsel - for the edification of their listeners. Of course, this is done after much thought - for they govern their tongues well and only speak that which is pertinent and profitable and full of grace - never that which is heedless or rash.

 

In closing, we would like to consider on which side of the fence we sit today - on the side of the "upright" who are "blessing" their cities or the side of the "wicked" who are tearing them down with their ungodliness.

 

It all depends on our words which reflect the true condition of our hearts.

 

We must realize that - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" - goes beyond a positive or negative confession. It has to do with the words which spontaneously proceed from our hearts - indicating who we really are - as opposed to those words which we train our mouths to say.  

 

As the Church, we must be distinct. Our words must be different. We are not called to bring destruction but blessing. We are "salt" and "light"(Matthew 5:13-14) and must make a difference in our world.

 

The Holy Spirit is calling for a separation.

 

Allow the words of Morris Cerullo in his book entitled - "How To Win The Battle Of The Tongue" - to stir you to change - "The Church of Jesus Christ today is undisciplined! It has fallen into a state of lethargy and indifference...There are Christians who have become lax and indifferent concerning their speech and the words coming out of their mouths...off-color remarks, boasting, deceit, lies, criticism, and all forms of evil speech. Do not think for one minute that Christians who have become slothful and undisciplined will be able to stand against the coming onslaughts of Satan. They won't!...This is the day to go out onto the battlefield to discipline, take control and subdue the one area of our lives that affects our entire being: the tongue. Once we bring the part of ourselves into submission and control of the Holy Spirit, we will be able to discipline our entire body."

 

Don't forget - wicked words - proceeding from a wicked heart - lead to a wicked lifestyle which calls for "strokes" or the just judgment of God on a people.

 

The only way we - as a society - can avoid the judgment of God is for the "upright" to bring "blessing" to their "city" by speaking pure words which proceed from pure hearts.

 

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue..."

 

What are you bringing to your "city"?

 

May God Bless His Word.