The Tale of Two Tongues – Wholesome Speech, Life-Giving Choices

A Choice in Direction

Directing the Dispute

Proverbs 15:1 “A soft answer turneth away wrath: But grievous words stir up anger.”

Determining the Design

Proverbs 15:2 “The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: But the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.”

When should I use the knowledge I have?

Am I using knowledge for good or for evil?

Do I give information to help and edify or without thought and care?

Do I deliver wisdom with love and grace or a mean spirit?

The wise man uses the knowledge that God has given him in the right way, for the appropriate circumstances, and with a heart to be a blessing and build up the life of someone else.

It is not simply knowing the information, but determining how to use it in the way that God designed for it to be used.

A Call to Accountability

Proverbs 15:3 “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, Beholding the evil and the good.”

This verse reminds us that God is omniscient; he is everywhere. He sees what you are doing, what you are saying, and how you are behaving. He hears what you talk about, who you talk about, and knows the intent of your heart when you speak.

Of course, what we say affects the actions we take.

Matthew 12:34 “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”

Titus 1:16 “They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

God knows what is going on in your heart and your words and deeds are simply a reflection of that. The Proverb here is calling us to an understanding of the accountability we have to God as he sees and knows everything.

A Charge for Truth

Proverbs 15:4 “A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: But perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.”

Wholesome speaks to the idea of truth. When we speak truth we speak life to the people to whom we are addressing.

A preacher that stands before the congregation and delivers the truth of God’s Word is speaking life to the hearers. Some people may not like the truth that he delivers, but failure to follow Scripture leads to destruction and whether they want to hear it or not we must give them that truth. A failure to do so would be equivalent to leading his hearers toward the perverseness of this world and ultimately destruction for their lives.

A person that speaks truth to their friend even when that friend really just wants affirmation is someone that is doing something good for their friend.

Proverbs 27:6 “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.”

A parent that holds the line with their children in defense of what is true and right rather than giving in to their child so they can feel supported or fit in with the crowd is a parent that helps their children in their life. To let children simply wander through life doing what they want, dressing like they want, going the places they want to go, and hanging out with the people they want to hang out with is a recipe for teaching that child that choices do not have consequences and it will lead to perverse living.

Deuteronomy 6:5–7 “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

When say things that are not true, promote actions that are not righteous, and criticize those that are seeking to do right then we cause a “breach in the spirit”. The absence of truth leads to a life lived for one’s self, a convolution of right and wrong, and a pathway of life filled with wounds, regrets, and destruction.

Is this what you want for those you attend church with?

Is this what you want for your friend or neighbor or family?

Is this what you want for your children?

We must pursue righteousness over evil. We need to be able to admit when we are wrong on an issue. We need to align with the Word of God in the what we say, in what we do, in what we wear, in what we promote, in our relationship, and in the places that we go.

A Contrast of Characters

Proverbs 15:8–9 “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: But the prayer of the upright is his delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: But he loveth him that followeth after righteousness.”

God tells us here that he does not want a sacrifices from a wicked person. Does that mean that he does not want the wicked to repent? No. The passage clearly speaks of a person whose heart is wicked, whose intentions are wicked, and whose actions of sacrifices are about making himself look better before men and not really about repairing or restoring his relationship with God.

So it is with a person who pursues strife in his life over peace, misuses knowledge from God for his own benefit, lives as if no one is watching, and chooses willful blindness to the truth so that they can do and say what they want. God does not want his sacrifice and God hates the way he is living and the path he is choosing.

In contrast, God wants to hear from his people. God loves when we commune with him, when we depend upon him for answers to circumstances of life, and pursue a relationship with him daily. God loves the person that follows after the things that are right. God loves those that use wisdom to follow God and build up others as well. God loves those that understand they are accountable to God and strives to make right choices. God loves the person that pursues and proclaims truth in their lives.

The contrast of these two characters is highlighted by God’s relationship with them; one has a relationship with him that is characterized by love, grace, and beauty and the other has no relationship with God, even if he convinces himself otherwise, and will face only the wrath and condemnation of God in the end.

We must ask ourselves which of these characters we want to be.