How often does something you say cause a stir or an argument?  Maybe you use the wrong word to communicate.  Or maybe you say something in a tone that strikes a wrong cord with your wife, kids, co-worker, or with a fellow believer.  Misunderstandings have led to things as severe as wars between nations.  And many times we say things with the purpose to be hurtful or harmful as well.  That’s why James could speak of the tongue in this way, “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.”  (3:9) Have you ever done that?  To my disgust I am guilty as well. 

The Bible speaks a lot to how we should or should not speak.  One type of negative speech is reviling.  The Bible says that revilers will not inherit the kingdom of God.(I Cor 6:10)  A reviler is one who assails another with abusive language.  The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians not to keep company, nor to even eat with such a person who is named a brother who is a reviler. (I Cor 5:11) The Apostle Peter wrote to those under persecution not to return “evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit” (I Peter 3:9, 10)

The apostle Paul also wrote to the Ephesians that they were to put away “evil speaking”. (Eph 4:31)  The word is often translated ‘blasphemy’.  It also has the idea of railing or reviling type talk.  Paul’s instruction to Titus was for him to instruct the believers under his charge “to speak evil of no one.” (3:2) The Israelites were warned even against speaking evil of a ruler of the people. (Ex 22:28)  Do we not grieve the Spirit of God when we fail in the care of our speech?  We are no better than the unbelieving when we choose to partake of evil speaking.  “The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.” (Prov 15:28)

You know in the church we can come together on a Sunday morning and clean up our speech pretty well for an hour or two.  And if we are not open to God convicting us of sin and the need for change, we may think we are shining the rest of the week, even though we may be actually wallowing in a mud pit!  James put it this way, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” James 3:10   How will you speak this week to your spouse – your neighbor – your co-worker- your brother/sister in Christ?  Remember, “Excellent speech is not becoming to a fool, much less lying lips to a prince.” Proverbs 17:7