"The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward tongue shall be cut out." Proverbs 10:31
It may surprise some people to discover that God is concerned with what we say. The picture that is given in this passage seems to be a plant metaphor. The mouth of the just produces wisdom just like a pear tree produces pears. The forward tongue will be cut out (or off) just as the life sapping branches of a tree are pruned. What is your mouth producing? Most people have a difficult time believing that their words are not words of wisdom. Our thoughts make sense to us. However, the true measure of wisdom is God and His Word, not our thoughts and ideas.
Is wisdom is being produced through your words? To what extent does biblical truth affect how you speak and what you say? In Matthew 12:36, Jesus told his audience “that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” Words are meaningful to God. If every idol word will be brought into account, what about all of the intentional, well thought out words. May we use our words to edify one another and glorify God.