Peter wrote, "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile" (1 Peter 3:10).

The tongue is one of the hardest members of the body to tame. James says, "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (3:8). This makes it clear as to the trouble the tongue can cause. The tongue can be, and often is, used for destruction; yet, it can also be used for edification. Saints sing to admonish each other (Colossians 3:16), give words to console (Galatians 6:2), exhibit words of joy to share in the rejoicing of others (Romans 12:15), etc.

There is no doubt that the tongue can hurt and scare people. It is used for lying, slander, gossip, swearing, sarcasm, jesting, self-adoration, complaining, criticizing, arguing, putting down, bitterness, accusing, abusing, and assuming, etc. It is easy to say words that fall into one of the above categories. Every effort must be used to control our speech. Paul said, "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Epheisans 4:29).

So often the lesson of the tongue centers on the speaker. Yet, consider the hearer. Even if we are not the one doing the talking, we may be all ears and guilty of encouraging the speaker to go on, thus we become partakers of his evil deeds (2 John 11).

Corrupt speech can come from lack of thought before one talks, listening to corrupt speech, speaking too soon, evil desires, and a lack of self-control. Magazines thrive on the evils of half-truths and lies. Moviemakers incorporate foul speech to satisfy the "audience." Many songwriters use lyrics that are unbecoming for any Christian to utter.

The question is, are we generating a proper example of speech or do we fit right in with the world? Let us conclude this article with some straightforward words taken from James the third chapter. "Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 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" (James 3:5-6).