Six Types of Tongues Part 6

So far we have covered:


1) a backbiting tongue
2) a deceitful, lying tongue
3) a froward tongue
4) a naughty tongue
5) a perverse tongue


We will finish this series on a positive note. All of the above do not look very inviting, does the Lord have anything good to say about the tongue? Yes, and we will look at take a few minutes to look at it.



A Wholesome Tongue

Proverbs 15:4: "A wholesome tongue is a treasure of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit."

In contrast to the five other types of tongues previously studied, a wholesome tongue is a breath of fresh air or, as today's text describes it, a "tree of life." Unlike, the froward, perverse, naughty, deceitful and backbiting tongues, the wholesome tongue edifies or builds up other people. It refuses to speak deceitfully, hypocritically, selfishly or boastfully. The believer who possesses a wholesome tongue will "[keep] his soul from troubles" (Prov. 21:23). Just as the other types of tongues expose the true attitude of a wicked, deceitful heart, a wholesome tongue reveals a heart that is in conformity to the will of God, a heart that seeks to reflect the mind of Christ through words and actions that edify others.

The word wholesome in today's text is especially noteworthy, for the Hebrew word from which it is translated provides us with the key to discovering one of the primary purposes for possessing such a tongue. "A wholesome tongue" can also be rendered "a healing tongue." Rather than trying to tear others down, believers need to speak words of comfort, bearing one another's burdens and restoring those who are "overtaken in a fault" (Gal. 6:1-2). Imagine how much more pleasant life would be if we would use our tongues to heal rather than hurt. Of course, sometimes in order to "restore" an errant believer, words of rebuke are necessary. Nevertheless, every word we speak should be "with grace, seasoned with salt" (Col. 4:6), accomplished in a spirit of love (Eph. 4:15). Does the Lord view our speech as a putrefying "open sepluchre" (Romans 3:13) or as a beautiful "tree of life"?

Well, that is the end of our series. I pray it has been as much a help to you as it has been to me. I wonder what kind of tongue to we have? Some food for thought I reckon.

Until next time,

Country Mama