Oh Be Careful...

Some of us grew up with the kid’s song:

Oh, be careful, little mouth, what you say,
Oh, be careful, little mouth, what you say.
There’s a Father up above looking down in tender love,
Oh, be careful, little mouth, what you say.

This is vital spiritual advice for kids AND adults. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” It can do a lot of good, but it can do a lot of evil. We need to be careful!

Why give us a tongue? Why did God give us the ability to speak and talk? We can use our mouths for so much good! The mouth of the righteous is a “fountain of life” (Pro 10:11) because it “feeds many” (Pro 10:21) wisdom (Pro 12:18), knowledge (Pro 15:7), truth (Psa 15:1-2), pleasant words that soothe (Pro 15:4; 16:24), instruction (Deut 6:6-7; Pro 1:8-9), and comfort and encouragement (Pro 12:23; 16:24; Isa 40:1-2). Words can be beautiful, “…apples of gold in settings of silver” (Pro 25:11).

And most importantly, our tongues can tell of God’s righteousness (Psa 35:28), His “lovingkindness and faithfulness” (Psa 89:1). We can praise God (Psa 119:171-172), thank God (Psa 109:30) and “declare His praise” (Psa 51:5). We can do so much good with our words, for God and for others!

But when we’re not careful, when we don’t control our mouths, “transgression is not lacking” (Pro 10:19). We sin when we lie (Eph 4:25; Col 3:9; Rev 21:8), gossip and slander (Pro 11:13; Psa 15:1-3), use vulgar language (Eph 4:29-31); quarrel (Jam 4:1-2), swear (Mat 5:33-37), tell dirty jokes (Ep 5:3-4), and brag (Jam 4:13-16).

We are to guard our mouths, even being cautious about careless words (Pro 13:3; Matt 12:36-37). James reminds us that, although the tongue is small, it “is a fire” with the potential to do a huge amount of damage.

“Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so” (Jam 3:6-10).

Because, there’s a Father up above looking down in tender love, oh be careful little mouth what you say!   dd