26 If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself.
As I began to study this verse, my thoughts went back to my grandmother, who was a pillar in the church, but her words to me were unkind. As a child, I wondered about her religion (which James means “ceremonial public worship”) and didn’t want a part of a religion that was important in her life, but she could be so ugly with her words.
I think we all have situations where we have either been spoken to or spoken to someone unkindly. And lots has been written on taming your tongue. The following verses are just a few:
Psalm 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.
Psalm 39:1, David states, I said, “I will guard my ways so that I may not sin with my tongue; I will guard my mouth with a muzzle as long as the wicked are in my presence.”
Peter quotes, part of Psalm 34:13 in 1 Peter 3:10, “For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit,
So, why is this important, it is just words, right? One translation uses, deceives the heart, instead of himself. I have heard for years and used this saying in teaching, “What comes out of your mouth is what is in your heart”. The Heart and the tongue act and react on one another. So, our speech is both a tongue and a heart issue. Until we change our hearts, our speech will not follow. Ask The Lord to search your heart today and see what needs to go so we can love life and see good days.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jas 1:26). (Ps 34:13). (Ps 39:1). (1 Pe 3:10). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
