Thus far our study of the tongue has encompassed the following topics: deadly poison, a well of life, think before you speak, vain religion, a time to speak, trapped by your own words, actions speak louder than words, sins of the tongue, and what is acceptable.
Having finished all of that, I'd like for us to take a look at some more peculiar and/or interesting passages in the Bible that make reference to the tongue.
The first of these is Psalm 12:3-4, The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh proud things: Who have said, With our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is Lord over us?
Flattery, boasting, mischief, rebellion…all are evidenced by the tongue in this passage. God says that He will cut off those who talk this way. Now that doesn't mean He's going to send a preacher with a knife and scalpel to perform some type of operation rendering you incapable of speech. The phrase "cut off" is used frequently in the Bible and simply means to put a sudden and abrupt end to something or someone.
What is this person's main problem? I would say it is identified by the phrase our lips are our own: who is Lord over us? May we all continually bear in mind that we are bought with a very great price and that we are not our own (1 Corinthians 6:19-20; 1 Peter 1:18-19). Jesus Christ has the right, the power, and the authority to govern our lives…and our lips. Let us yield to Him full control of all we say and all we do.
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Proverbs 21:6 says, The getting of treasures by a lying tongue is a vanity tossed to and fro of them that seek death. You've heard this over and over, and you're probably sick of hearing it, but it's the truth; and we need to hear it and know it and believe it.
There is nothing wrong with treasures, there is nothing wrong with riches, there is nothing wrong with money. But if those things are what you live for, if those things are what you devote your life to attaining, then you're headed down a very troublesome, very empty path. You might think you're seeking "life", but God says you're going after death.
What is the problem with the "will" to be rich? 1 Timothy 6:9 says that it pushes you into temptations, snares, and many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. Did you notice what Proverbs 21:6 said? Is it not true that there are many who have found material success through dishonest means? Is it not obvious that the greater the desire to obtain material wealth, the greater the temptation to do whatever you have to do to get it? To throw away your convictions, your standards, your righteousness, your service to God, because they might rob you of the opportunity to become more wealthy?
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. -1 Timtohy 6:10
For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? -Mark 8:36, 37
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