"So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." (James 3:5-10)
Given the above passage, how quick to speak should we really be? I mean, if such a great potential of danger is made possible each time we speak, would we not be better off keeping our mouths shut? In short...yes. We Christians should resolve to keep our mouths shut. As a matter of fact, Scripture tells us as much. In James 1:19, we are instructed to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Maybe that's why God gave us 2 ears and only 1 mouth, amirite? To speak only half as much as we listen.
An eagerness to speak is often representative of pride, which we know is abominable to God. As people of The Book, may you and I commit to trusting in the Word of God to speak rather than we ourselves. Going forward, let us resolve not to ask without having first given ample consideration to the question at hand ourselves and also not to answer without first being asked and then prepared with a well thought out response that is grounded in Scripture. A simple restraint on our tongues will keep us from many sins, because "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent" (Proverbs 10:19).
You and I ought never to start, stoke, or supply wood for a fire of contention. We contribute to such events by way of gossip. Instead, Christians are to be "wet blankets" of a sort...a place where fiery rumors go to be quenched. "For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases" (Proverbs 26:20).
Our problem, though, is that we are unable to tame our tongues. No one can. Though our tongues are small, they are too difficult for us to wield safely. And do you know why? It is because what we say flows from what is in our hearts (Matthew 12:34) and our hearts are u.g.l.y. (Jeremiah 17:9). So, what can we do?
Like David, we can ask for help. May our prayer genuinely be "Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).
I reckon its like ol' Smokey Bear said, "Only you can prevent forest fires."
"Let the words of [our] mouths and the meditation of [our] hearts be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, [our] rock and [our] redeemer." (Psalm 19:14)
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