PUT IT ON HOLD

When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. – Proverbs 10:19

This passage begins and ends with our mouths.  With our mouths we can make life good of render it nearly intolerable.  And this particular proverb urges us to hold our tongues.

It’s not so much that silence is such a blessing but that speaking is often such a curse.  A careless word, a thoughtless comment, an angry retort, a jealous jab – all come from the mouth.

Don’t we often just say what we think?  Don’t we often simply allow our emotions and passions to control our tongues and inflict injury with our words?

To avoid causing so much injury, we basically need to hold our tongues.  But does it do any good to try to manage our tongues by ourselves?

The best way to hold our tongues is to admit we cannot do it ourselves, and to surrender to the One who can.  Tongues that are on hold, in the grip not of our determination but of divine love, are helpful, healing tongues, held by God.

This must be what James meant when he wrote, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless” (James 1:26).  The only way, finally, to hold your tongue successfully is to let God hold it – and use it.