The Untamed Tongue

Our words should comfort, uplift, and bless each other.

Sometimes, our words could betray us; they reveal what is in our hearts.

By David Oletu (DCM)

Words are powerful. 

Indeed, Words play a vital role in our relationships and way of life. 

Words can build and, as well, destroy.

And Words can strengthen and weaken. 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” ~Proverbs 18:21

Sometimes, our words could betray us; they reveal what is in our hearts.

Jesus said this in Matthew 15:18–19: “The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these things defile a man”

because “out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, and slander.”

We should be careful of every word that proceeds out of our mouths.

“If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” ~James 1:26

Everyone must be aware of how their tongue can fail them, fail others, and fail God.

Hence, in this article, we will be examining four forms of untamed tongues. 

The Untamed Tongue

The Tongue That Lies:

“Everything we do and say must be based on the truth; lies make a shaky foundation for any relationship.” ~Deborah Smith Pegues

Let us look at the relatable story of Charles.

Charles was a fresh graduate from a prestigious university in Nigeria. 

Having completed his compulsory one-year service (NYSC) program, he started hunting for jobs. 

Charles went through hell before he could find a befitting job.

Because he had half-baked qualifications needed to get him the job that suited his line of interest,

he went to learn how to tweak his curriculum vitae to gain relevance rather than making a move to boost his qualifications through internships or skill acquisition programs. 

After he had learnt how to tweak his CV to tickle the fancy of his potential recruiters, he applied for a job in an organisation that requires the service of a graphics designer.

The salary was competitive. 

Charles could design, but he only knows the basics.

With his basic knowledge, he wrote on his CV that he is an expert in the field with five years of experience.

He also made his presentation more attractive by attaching the magnificent graphic design works of his friend to his portfolio. 

Which organisation would reject such a ‘hot’ CV and portfolio? None, I guess.

Fortune eventually shined on Charles.

When he was finally called for an interview, he bragged about how well he could work under pressure and complete multiple design tasks within a few hours. 

And yes! He was given the job!

However, when the time came for him to prove how good he had described himself to be, he started struggling,

giving his organisation so much stress and mediocre work. 

When the organisation couldn’t cope with Charles’ mediocre work, they fired him! Charles was sacked!

LIES!!!

The Untamed Tongue

Many of us are like Charles. We tell lies about who we truly are to gain relevance.

Charles had failed himself by telling lies.

He had tarnished his image by presenting himself as someone whose words lacked integrity. 

It won’t cost us a thing to stay true to ourselves and work on our weaknesses to grow better. 

We should be careful not to make the loudest noises to gain relevance when we lack substance in the real sense. 

The Untamed Tongue

The Tongue That Manipulates:

A tongue that manipulates things or others wrongly for selfish gains is not of God. It is from the devil. 

Whoever manipulates will be as cursed as the devil, who manipulated Adam and Eve into disobeying God. 

Mr. Koffi and Mrs. Rita were a couple who loved each other so much.

While sailing in their marriage ‘ship’, they constantly renew their vow to each other that they will never leave each other, no matter the difficult circumstances they go through. 

They were both rich.

They had luxurious mansions and cars; they managed a big industry; and they had connections with influential people around the world. 

However, they lacked one thing in their 10 years of marriage, and that was a child!

When they couldn’t deal with the pressure that comes with married couples not having children, they went to patronise the wonders of science in reproduction. 

And, with the help of science, through IVF, they were able to make babies—a set of twins—both males!

It was a ‘Joy at Last’ moment for them.

They felt complete, finally, and vowed to make their children greater than them at all costs!

They treated their children like eggs.

As their children grew in stature, they pampered them so much and ensured their children always got the best. 

One day, Mr. Koffi went to meet the academic director of his children’s school and said to him:

“Ensure my twins don’t fail in their academics. They must come out on top in their class. If they don’t, I will withdraw them from your school.”

Having heard the request and warnings of Mr. Koffi, the academic director felt pressured and scared of losing the interest of such a rich man in his school.

If he loses Mr. Koffi’s children to another school, his school will suffer a financial loss because Mr. Koffi was one of the biggest influencers and sponsors of his school. 

In the academic director’s quest never to see Mr. Koffi’s children fail in their academics, he worked secretly with all the class teachers,–

instructing them to always make Mr. Koffi’s children’s grades excellent, even if they were dull academically. 

The manipulative act went on until the twins graduated from high school.

Everyone celebrated the twins for their excellent results.

Mr. Koffi was equally proud to announce his children’s results for the whole world to see, to show how excellent his reputation was. 

Mr. Koffi also assured his children that nothing would hinder them from studying any professional course they wished to study.

The one who dreams of becoming a lawyer studied law, while the one who dreams of becoming an accountant studied accounting.

Mr. Koffi influenced their admission to a renowned private university with money.

Mr. Koffi also used his influence to liaise with the school vice chancellor and head of his children’s departments,

telling them that his children must not fail; they must be given the best grades.

Mr. Koffi paid them to do their work on a ‘clean sheet’, and his children truly came out with flying colours with less study effort put in place. 

Mr Koffi became so proud once again, announcing his children’s academic feat to the whole world. 

After the twins had graduated from the university, Mr. Koffi handed over his big company to the twins.

He boasted of their academic achievements to his workers, to make them see how ‘highly intellectual’ his children were, and to give them high hopes that nothing would ever go wrong. 

The Untamed Tongue

However, within two years of leaving his company under the supervision of his children, Mr. Koffi’s establishment crashed.

Everything he had built from scratch was destroyed.

All were destroyed by the children, who lacked the intellectual and moral skills to handle the company’s projects, finances, and workers. 

HOW SAD! 

Many people are like Mr. Koffi and the other manipulators. 

Through manipulation, Mr. Koffi and his likes destroyed his children’s lives.

They have also made other people’s hard work seem like a waste of time, proving blindly that anything is possible with money. 

They are not aware that their untamed manipulative words and actions only make them dig their pits to fall into as time ticks. 

We should be careful. 

The Untamed Tongue

The Tongue That Curses:

One thing some Christians fail to realise is that their enemies are not humans.

Their failure to realise who their real enemy—the devil—makes them lay heavy curses on each other whenever their hearts are bitter or frustrated. 

It is important to know that when we curse people, we curse God, because they are God’s creation,

and it is not God’s will that they are flooded in darkness.

It is God’s will to see that everyone comes into His marvellous light and manifests His glory on earth. 

Ali was a 10-year-old boy when he lost both parents. He used to be very brilliant in school.

And He had always topped his class throughout his primary school days. Ali’s life was the epitome of excellence. 

Everything about Ali’s life was bright until that tragic incident happened, and his uncle had to adopt him. 

The uncle was a very nice man, but his wife was wicked and jealous.

The wife wasn’t always comfortable seeing Ali outshine her children in school, so she made life difficult for Ali. 

“You Orphan! 

Worthless animal! 

You will never make it in life!”

The wife will always curse Ali with those unpleasant words and more.

She doesn’t care about how those words would affect the 10-year-old Ali’s psychology.

But She only wanted to make him feel worthless, scared, and intimidated.

Well, she achieved her goal.

Ali’s grades began to drop as he grew and advanced academically. He was no longer that bright boy, to the surprise of his uncle. 

No one could tell why Ali’s strength had weakened.

But we could see clearly that his uncle’s wife’s negative words towards him had played a huge role in destroying his (Ali) mental health and concentration in class. 

Each time Ali tries to focus at such a tender age of 10, he remembers how he is only an orphan,

how he is worthless, and how he won’t amount to anything in life, as said by his uncle’s wife. 

That was how he began to see himself, perhaps for the rest of his life, except if God intervened, through a serious counsellor or a psychologist. 

Our words should comfort, uplift, and bless each other.

It won’t cost us a dime to speak kind and edifying words to each other.

Our anger, jealousy, envy, strife, etc. won’t just make us see others as God sees them. 

And those are the ‘real enemies’ we must all fight against. 

The Untamed Tongue

The Quick Tongue:

James 1:19

“Let every man be swift to hear and slow to speak.”

Proverbs 29:20

“Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”

One thing we can never take back is our word. Once our words are said, they will register in people’s brains and influence their actions. 

A problem we have in the world today is misinformation. This is an era where the internet and social media are open to displaying all sorts of information—bad or good. 

People are now in haste to share bad or insensitive content behind their keypads or cameras because they feel that is what everyone wants to hear.

This has caused a lot of defamation, division, strife, and mental instability among humans and even in the body of Christ.

We should not be quick to spread bad news. We should first think about the implications of it for people at large. 

Imagine yourself as a believer who is always sharing bad news on your social media timeline to drive traffic and never for once seen posting good news.

What impact do you think you are making in the lives of your followers?

You are only instigating more negative feelings and attitudes in people.

Let us not be in haste to analyse issues. And Let us not always follow the crowd.

But Let us follow God’s will. And Let our brains work first before we open our mouths to speak. 

Our words should not be like the fire that destroys.

They should be like the light that gives hope and guides people to the right path.

The Untamed Tongue

There are many other forms of untamed tongues. The other forms include tongues that gossip, slander, discourage, etc.;

however, we should be sober and discreet so that our tongues won’t kill us, kill others, or dishonour God. 

Together, let’s say the words of affirmation below by Deborah Smith Pegues:

1. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words in my mouth are just; none of them are crooked or perverse. (Proverb 8:7-8)

2. Because I am in right standing with God, He surrounds me with favour. Therefore, I do not need to manipulate anyone for personal gain or advantage.

3. I am swift to hear and slow to speak. The Lord has set a guard over my mouth, and He watches over the doors of my life. 

4. I will make every effort to speak words that engender peace and to refrain from any communication that creates disunity. 

5. “By the grace of God, I am what I am.” 1 Corinthians 15:10

6. Therefore, whatever things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, of virtue, and praiseworthy, I comment only on those things.

7. I am not busy with other people’s matters. Therefore, I do not use my tongue as an instrument of gossip. 

8. I am genuinely interested in others and only seek information from them that will allow me to serve, love, and support them better. 

9. No unwholesome talk comes out of my mouth, but only what helps build others according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

10. I open my mouth with wisdom. The law of kindness is on my tongue.

11. My words are seasoned with grace, and I speak the truth in love.

12. I will slow down and take the time to do unto others as I would have them do unto me.

13. Cursing does not proceed out of my mouth. Today, I give God full charge of my tongue. By His grace, I will speak words that will bring honour to His name. 

14. I will not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing because of this, I have been called that I may inherit a blessing. 

15. Worry weighs a person down, but my encouraging words will cheer the person up.

Also Read: The Destiny Killers – Diademng (thediademng.org)

The Untamed Tongue

About Tongue: Tongue – Wikipedia