How Are We Using Our Speech?
- Elijah McSwain
- May 1, 2024
- 8 min read
4/24/2024
Elijah McSwain, Sr.
Proverbs 15:2 & 7 NKJV — The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. The lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool does not do so.
Phillip Burrows Strong wrote a poem entitled The Tongue that goes as follows:
The boneless tongue, so small and weak,
Can crush and kill,” declares the Greek.
“The tongue destroys a greater hoard,”
The Turk asserts, “than does the sword.”
A Persian proverb wisely saith,
“A lengthy tongue—an early death”.
Or sometimes takes this form instead,
“Don’t let your tongue cut off your head.”
“The tongue can speak a word whose speed,”
The Chinese say, “outstrips the steed”.
While Arab sages this impart,
“The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.”
From Hebrew was this maxim sprung,
“Thy feet should slip, but ne'er the tongue.”
The sacred writer crowns the whole,
“Who keeps his tongue doth keep his soul!” 1
The words that we speak matter as it reveals the inward condition of the heart and the adverse impact that it has on a person in any given situation. A constant slip of the tongue discloses the foolish talk that is bound in the heart of a person; whereas wise speech unveils the proper condition of the heart that pursues godliness. The prolific writer Solomon compares and contrasts the effects of the tongue of the wise to the mouth of the foolish. In his synopsis of categorizing both a foolish mouth and a wise tongue, Solomon makes general statements that have rich and profound truths. With this in view, let us give attention to the positive overtones and the negative undercurrents that arise based on our usage of speech.
The Impact of a Wise Tongue
Solomon wrote that the tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly (v. 2a). In conjunction with this statement, Solomon restated this same truth in verse 7a that the lips of the wise disperse knowledge.
The tongue when used properly is not a devise for mischievous, repressive, troublesome, or foolish activity.
The mouth of the prudent projects forth divine wisdom, knowledge and truth as a means of giving wise counsel and insightful information to others through the appropriate use of speech. In our communication, it is vitally important to use discernment. Discernment empowers us to give forethought in our verbalization when we open our mouths to speak as we rely upon the Spirit of God. The way that we communicate will reveal the knowledge and wisdom of God in connection with righteousness living. The vocalization of our words demonstrates if our lives align with God’s Word as it speaks to our Christian character.
The mouth of the wise will not give way for everything to proceed out of his or her mouth.
Great attention is given by wise people in regard to the things that they say because they understand what is spoken from the tongue reveals the character of the heart. Proverbs 14:33a (NJKV) aligns its biblical truth with such a provoking thought that “wisdom rests in the heart of him who has understanding.” Wisdom is stored in the mind of every individual that comprehends and yields to the knowledge of God. In accord with possessing such wisdom through understanding a wise person uses his or her speech in a way that honors God. Are we truly honoring God by seeking His wisdom in our transmission of words?
David Jeremiah stressed that “a wise person does not parade his or her knowledge, a fool does.” 2 People who are considered wise use the proper judgment in their knowledge and speech.
Wise individuals know when to speak, what to speak, and how to speak in any given situation. They avoid blurting out every thought that generates in their mind.
The use of knowledge that insightful people possess is applied in an impactful way as contrasted to being spoken in a divisive and irrational manner. Such knowledge and speech impresses upon the listener a sense of language that is wholesome and godly articulated. Colossians 4:6 (NKJV) declares to "let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." John MacArthur ascribed the idea to speak what is spiritual, wholesome, fitting, kind, sensitive, purposeful, complimentary, gentle, truthful, loving, and thoughtful is a manner of communicating with grace. The notion of a person’s speech being seasoned with salt gives our words flavor and prevents corruptive talk. The Christian’s speech should act not only as a blessing to others, but as a purifying influence within the decaying society of the world. 3
The way in which we use our speech matters to God and should matter to us. The ability to speak with grace can impact the world around us. Our speech will allow other people to see God in us and be drawn to Him as He is reflected in us.
Proverbs 10:13-14 (NKJV) records “wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, but a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding. Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.” Spirit-filled expressions of the lips are governed by divine wisdom. Uncontrolled and impulsive speech is catered to the flesh and is often performed under the influential sway of the world.
The Bible broadcasts much on the topic of conversing and expressing ourselves through the use of words.
Proverbs 16:23 NKJV — The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds learning to his lips.
Ecclesiastes 10:12a NKJV — The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious.
Proverbs 10:19 ESV — When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
Proverbs 25:11 NKJV — A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
1 Peter 3:10-11 ESV — For “whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.
Proper communication is held in high esteem by God, while the improper use of the tongue is seen as something that is unfavorable and inadvisable as a way to engage others. The engagement of conversations unveils the personal ethics and conduct of a person, so it is significant that every person speak in a spiritually ethical and godly fashion. Giving great thought to what we say is to give attention to the spiritual condition of our souls, as it relates to whether or not we are being spiritually molded by God or being molded by foolish impressions.
The Impact of a Foolish Mouth
Solomon addressed the effect of a foolish mouth in the latter part of verse 2. A person that is deemed foolish speaks foolishly.
Foolishness is poured out of the mouth of a person who is ruled by foolish thoughts and ambitions.
Proverbs 15:14b (NKJV) is written that “the mouths of foods feeds on foolishness.”
Foolish people have a stimulated appetite for foolery and what they feast on will eventually be regurgitated through their lips.
Warren Wiersbe once penned that “because they feed on foolishness fools have no moral strength. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom” (10:21). The foolish not only lack spiritual and intellectual nourishment, but they also lack refreshing water: Understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it. But the correction of fools is folly (16:22). Follow wisdom and we will live on a fruitful oasis; follow folly and our home will be an arid desert.” 4 Lacking a moral compassion is a sign of the absence of spiritual discernment. Therefore, a person who is unwise will feast on his or her own foolishness. To eat the toxins of mindless and godless depravity leads to foolish behavior and speech.
Ecclesiastes 10:12-14 ESV — The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is evil madness. A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? Warren Wiersbe noted that “because fools’ ideas “begin with foolishness,” what they say doesn’t make sense. And the longer they talk, the crazier it becomes. Their conclusions will be “raving madness.” They would be better off to keep quiet because all that they say only lets everybody know that they are fools (5:3).” 4
People will never know exactly what obscene talk, offensive talk, and nonsense that will rise to the forefront of humanistic thinking driven by folly. They do not have a filter on their mouths to keep certain things from seeping out.
Foolishness accompanies a person as they are consumed by it and caught in its snare. They are imprisoned and held in solidarity confinement to inward thoughts that have taken them captive. What is stored in the heart overflows through their lips to say as well as do things that are despicable. The heart of the foolish is driven by malicious intent to use their knowledge inappropriately. The knowledge that they acquire is used for evil. Proverbs 15:7 (NKJV) points out that “the lips of the wise disperse knowledge, but the heart of the fool does not do so.” A heart that is full of folly and wickedness promotes acts and speech that are reckless and careless. A person who has the absence of divine knowledge and wisdom in connection with understanding is incapable of bridling their tongue and taming their mouth.
Therefore, the tongue of the foolish pours out the expressions of their feelings in an unrestrained way.
Hence, it speaks to their defiled inward nature without God to control the use of their tongues. Matthew 15:11b (NKJV) emphasizes “what comes out of the mouth defiles a man.” John MacArthur wrote this in relation to the defilement of the mouth, “moral defilement corrupts a person’s soul.” 3 The soul that is corrupt and defiled will always act in accord to its polluted, contaminated, and tainted function to cause harm to others instead of promoting good and the welfare of others.
Scriptural reference to the activity of an unwise person indicates that their behavior traits and characteristics thrive on ill-considered communication and practice.
Proverbs 12:23b NKJV — The heart of fools proclaim foolishness.
Proverbs 13:16b NKJV — Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool lays open his folly.
Proverbs 12:15-16 NKJV — The way of a fool is right in his own eyes…….a fool’s wrath is known at once.
Proverbs 5:23 NKJV — He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.
To willingly and ignorantly be led astray by corrupt behavior ends in ruin because of failing to one's own demise. As we compared and contrasted the dialogue of the wise and the mouths of those who are labeled as foolish, we must pay close attention to what we say and how we say it so that our speech will edify others and not ignite fires. Disastrous situations can be avoided on the basis of how we communicate.
How are we using out speech?
References
Illustrations Unlimited. A Topical Collection of Hundreds of Stories, Quotations, and Humor. James Hewett (Editor).
The David Jeremiah Study Bible
The MacArthur Study Bible
The Wiersbe Study Bible