| Tips for the Tongue |
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| Written by T. M. Moore | ||||
| Friday, 09 May 2008 | ||||
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Mouths full of glory (5) And my tongue will talk of Your righteous help all the day long. Psalm 71.24
Click to Listen We’ve been thinking about the tongue and how we might use our speech in ways to ensure that the glory of God and the benefit of our neighbors are advanced by the things we say. This is certainly a much larger subject than we can cover in the space of five brief commentaries; but perhaps we’ve considered the use of our tongues in some ways that have provoked your curiosity and given you some hope that your mouth, too, could begin to be more full of glory than at present. Today I want to offer just five simple guidelines that can help to ensure that your speech can begin to be more of what God intends.
What changes or alterations in your speech habits are you considering? How might God use your speech to encourage others to consider Him?
Psalm 71 In You, O Lord, I refuge claim; O let me never be ashamed. In righteousness deliver me; incline Your ear and hear my plea.
Refrain v. 3
vv. 4-6 Refrain
vv. 7, 8 Refrain
vv. 9-11 Refrain
vv. 12, 13 Refrain
vv. 14-16 Refrain
vv. 17, 18 Refrain
vv. 19, 20 Refrain
vv. 21, 22 Refrain
vv. 23, 24 Refrain From The Ailbe Psalter (Knoxville: Waxed Tablet Publications, 2006).  Add as favourites (6) |  Quote this article on your site | Print | E-mail
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First, when it comes to the use of our tongues, make it a point to exercise frequently, but use it sparingly. We should always be working at improving the use of our tongues. In prayer, by singing, and in conversations with those closest to us we can begin to take on more of a gracious aspect in our speech. We should practice frequently, by all these means, to discipline our tongues for use at the appropriate times. But we must also remember James’ counsel that we should be quick to hear and slow to speak (Jms. 1.19). Just because we have a tongue doesn’t mean we need to always be using it. Sometimes the best ministry to another person is the ear of a good listener. Second, work hard to make sure that your speech is seasoned for a reason. Paul says our speech is to be gracious, so that we will know how to answer each person (Col. 4.6). That is, before we open our mouths to talk, we should make sure we have in mind what the specific issue is we want to address, and then we should do so in a gracious, considerate, gentle, reverent, and respectful manner. We all know people who seem to talk just to hear the sound of their own voice. This does not honor God, nor does it help others. Before we speak we need to think through all that we want to say, make sure there is a ministry purpose to it, and then season our speech with grace. Related to this, third, try to think of your tongue as a bridle and not a bludgeon. The tongue must be used to steer and guide our thoughts, affections, and values in positive directions. It should restrain every harmful tendency and pull to a halt any runaway notions or feelings. Used correctly the tongue, like the bridle of a horse, can direct enormous power and potential in useful directions. But we must learn to control it, or else it will too easily become a tool for beating others down or merely asserting our every whim. Fourth, when we speak, practice the discipline of speaking up to others. I mean this in two ways. First, have the common courtesy to speak loudly and slowly enough so that others can hear. Don’t make them have to strain to understand you; be clear and be loud, without being so loud that we draw more attention to ourselves than to our thoughts. Second, speak up to others by always thinking, “Edify, edify, edify!” (Eph. 4.29) Things that tend to bring down people’s souls – like negative criticism, vulgarity, bragging, bitterness, and mere frivolity – should be avoided in our speech. Instead, let’s try to think in terms of others, of what will edify them in the Lord, or minister in an affirming way to some need in their lives. Finally, don’t wait for conversations to begin. Your tongue can be a powerful engine for honoring God and blessing others, so don’t be afraid to start ‘er up and see if anyone wants to talk. William Wilberforce was famous for his ability to start conversations and launch them in the direction of spiritual things. We can learn to do the same. This is the stated goal of The Gospel and This World Group, and we’d love to have you register and join us to learn how to start conversations on all kinds of things in ways that can lead to a witness for our Lord. When it comes to using our tongues we need to keep in mind that the overarching reason we have tongues is to give glory to God and blessing to men. That’ll take some work, to be sure, but if we apply ourselves diligently over time, we’ll find that we can truly begin to achieve mouths full of glory as the Lord enables.
