Sins Of The Tongue, Most Numerous & Offensive

Common Sense Commentary: "Let thy words be few " and true. EC.5:2

Preparing a sermon on gossip, sowing discord, and idle talk, I discovered that there are ten times more references, in the Bible, to the sins of the tongue than to all the other forms of sin combined. This was a surprising and revealing fact to me, but it shouldn't have been. I should have known the evil tongue's manifold preponderance, destructiveness and offense to God by simply observing the types of sin one comes in contact with every day. The same percentages hold true in life as in Scripture ... We are exposed to ten times more sins of the tongue than all other sin combined. Similar to a contagious, deadly virus, it is communicable and spreads rapidly to others.

I think it is accurate that most of us are so inundated these days with gossip, idle talk, cursing, criticism, lies, misrepresentations, exaggerations and broken promises that we are almost immune to any reaction to these wicked verbal violations of God's Word. "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell". James 3:6. This verse should scare us into examining every single word we utter.

In today's world, many people think absolutely nothing of promising to do things they have no intention of doing. Character assassination of a third person is passed along to another gossip as "Constructive Criticism" or "For your protection". It more resembles "Destructive Terrorism". Vicious gossip is given and received as eagerly as if it were delectable morsels of nourishment to a starving, emaciated beggar. No one should allow their ear to become
a receptacle for some gossip's verbal vomit.

King David was speaking for the Lord when he warned, "Whoso privily (secretly) slandereth his neighbor, will I cut off .... " Psm.101:5. King Solomon spoke Holy Scripture, in Prov.10:18, when he said, "He that hideth
hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool". He also declared, "An ungodly (person) diggeth up evil ... a froward (person) soweth strife and a whisperer separately chief friends." Prov.16:27-28

Solomon no doubt spoke from experience and revelation when he said, "A fool's mouth is his destruction .... the words of a talebearer are as wounds ...." Prov.18:7-8 . Gossip and idle talk not only wound the target of evil remarks, but shortens the gossip's own life as well. It was wise advice indeed when Solomon counseled, "Whoso keepeth ... his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles." Prov.21:23.

Jesus suffered more than any of us at the hands of the backbiters, rumor mongers and hateful gossips. He was so hated by the Devil that false witnesses and liars were constantly recruited, by the Serpent tongues of Satan's crew, in their desire to destroy Him or to neutralize His message. Satan has not changed his methods. He still hates God and God's church and God's people and does all in his evil power to hinder us with his venom. But remember, when he strikes out at you with his verbal, poison darts, it is not for your sake but, Jesus said, "for my sake". Matt.5:11.

Before we say bad things about others, we should first ask ourselves, "Will my words glorify God" ?
I must confess, many of mine have not.

Pass it on. RB