The tongue and wisdom

WISDOM - (W)

Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee. (Pro 2.11)

The right use or exercise of knowledge; the choice of laudable ends, and of the best means to accomplish them.
Wise - (H7919)  to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent:—consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(-ly), guide wittingly.

TONGUE -(H3956)  used literally (as the instrument of licking, eating, or speech), — babbler, bay, evil speaker, language, talker, tongue, wedge. (G1100) The organ of speech.

• The definitions of the two subjects, "wisdom and tongue," are self explanatory.  One is used to proliferate the other.  Ahh, there is the rub.  One cannot operate independently of the other.   However, to use one correctly, the other must be applied.

Simply put, "out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh." (Mt 12.34)

• The premise or genesis of this study began at Proverbs 2.11.  "Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee."  It occurred to this writer that there is a generation that has neither discretion, understanding or wisdom.  It is the burden on this heart to explore the use of the tongue to enlighten any who would peruse this site.

The wise preacher also told us to:

• bind truth upon the table of thine heart (Pro 3.3)
• ...keep sound wisdom and discretion (Pro 3.21)
• understand that "shame shall be the promotion of fools (Pro 3.35)

The question then becomes; "When should one speak?"
The answer, it would seem is obvious but most "fools" don't heed the obvious.  The answer would be;

1. when spoken to
2. when duty demands a response
3. to encourage

Then one might ask, "How discrete should be the response or answer?"
Again, it would seem obvious but not to the unlearned in scripture.  The answer would be:

1. thoughtfully (Jms 1.19) "slow to speak..."  i.e., "think before you speak"
2. prayerfully (Lk 18.1) make sure the matter is one that has been prayed about
3. scripturally - i.e. "What does the Bible say,?" should be the primary answer

A wise man once said that "God put our tongues behind bars of ivory in a pool of water" because we are to be more ready to hear than to speak about a matter.

Why should we be more ready to hear than speak and why should we "think before we speak.?"
The simple answer is "because once it's out there, one can't take it back!"

Consider James 3.5-8:
⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member, and 

• boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

⁶ And 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.

⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; 

• it is an unruly evil,
• full of deadly poison.

In a child's petulant manner it has been said, "sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never harm me."  The wise man said, "the pen is mightier than the sword." 
The scripture records, "...holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (2 Pet 1.21)

Do you want to be known as wise?  Do you want others to view you as mature?
Then, one will have to heed the Holy Writ.  James also tells us that; "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain." (Jms 1.26) 

Conclusion of the matter:
When you feel a need or are asked to speak, will you use your tongue "wisely," or will you "set on fire" a thing that cannot be controlled or stopped.

"Choose your words carefully."
Amen