1-26-20 Sermon Notes
“The Power of the Tongue” Proverbs
Last week, we focused on how to seek God’s wisdom and its benefits. This is week three of our ten-week series on Proverbs, “Heavenly Wisdom” and we will examine the blessings of wisely choosing our words.
Introduction
The Power of the Tongue
A person can speak many words a minute and several thousand in an hour. You can imagine how many words an average person speaks in a day! And some estimates are that women speak twice as many words a day as men. We could fill a library in a lifetime! If we did, what would the titles of those books be? The tongue has a powerful influence on others. God is looking for a holy life, and one of the key areas that we must guard with all diligence is our tongue.
The truth is, we all have problems with what we say. That’s probably why the Bible says so much about the tongue. Proverbs is filled with verses about both the positive and negative aspects of the tongue. The terms tongue, lips, mouth, and words appear over 170 times in the Bible.
We can either build people up or tear them down. It has often been said that a person tears down another person to build him or herself up. How sad is that!
Message
Let’s take a look at twelve verses about the use of our tongue from Proverbs and their consequences.
Rather than expound on each one, let the words speak to us individually to remind each of us of how positive or negative our words can be.
“Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.” Proverbs 10:19, NIV
“Whoever derides their neighbor has no sense, but the one who has understanding holds their tongue.” Proverbs 11:12, NIV
“Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.” Proverbs 13:3, NIV
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1, NIV
“Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”Proverbs 16:24, NIV
“The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered. Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” Proverbs 17:27-28, NIV
“To answer before listening—that is folly and shame.” Proverbs 18:13, NIV (“Be quick to listen and slow to speak”)
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21, NIV
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” Proverbs 21:23, NIV
“Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down.” Proverbs 26:20 NIV
“Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.” Proverbs 27:2, NIV
“Do you see someone who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for them.” – Proverbs 29:20, NIV
Concluding Remarks and Application
Some choice thoughts about the Tongue
Many a blunt word has a sharp edge.
Keep your words soft and sweet; you never know when you may have
to eat them.
A gossip is just a fool with a keen sense of rumor.
Profanity is a public announcement of stupidity.
Swearing is a lazy man’s way of trying to be emphatic.
A lie is a coward’s way of getting out of trouble.
Truth is as clear as a bell, but it isn’t always tolled.
When you sing your own praise, you always get the tune too high.
It would be better to leave people wondering why you didn’t talk than
why you did.
First law of public speaking: Nice guys finish fast.
When all is said and done, there’s a lot more said than done.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth
and remove all doubt.
The impact of our words can be summed up in James 3:4-5
“…take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”