DCLM DAILY MANNA 13 FEBRUARY 2021 – BLESSEDNESS OF THE BRIDLED TONGUE
Topic: Blessedness Of The Bridled Tongue (DCLM Daily Manna 13 February 2021)
Text: Proverbs 10:11-21 (KJV)
11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.
12 Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.
13 In the lips of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of him that is void of understanding.
14 Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city: the destruction of the poor is their poverty.
16 The labour of the righteous tendeth to life: the fruit of the wicked to sin.
17 He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.
18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander, is a fool.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.
20 The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.
Key Verse: “The tongue of the just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.” – (Proverbs 10:20)
MESSAGE:
A prominent minister of God once said, “Far too many of us, at one time or another, either knowingly or unknowingly, become Satan’s assistants! One of the most awful daggers, which Christians ever used, is the tongue of slander. Churches have been wrecked, loved ones estranged and lives blighted by it.”
Solomon, in our text, counsels on the lifestyle of the righteous and the wicked. He says that the mouth of the righteous and wise is a well of life and full of wisdom. He lays up knowledge and his labour “tendeth to life”. He keeps instructions and refrains from evil speaking. Thus, his words are as “choice silver”. Contrary to this is the life of the wicked, whose mouth is full of cursing, violence, hatred, slander and lying. He is void of understanding and lacks wisdom.
Truly, life and death are in the power of the tongue. Our words have the potential to make or mar the people we direct them at. Even more sobering is that our words are as irretrievable as a broken egg. Once it has dropped, it scatters and cannot be put together again. No amount of corrective efforts can undo whatever harm we may have inflicted on others with the wrong use of our tongues.
The absence of controlling power and truth affects the tongue. If the heart is polluted, the mouth will speak perversion. Generally, it is advisable to maintain silence when there is nothing positive or constructive to say. This will save us from making vain, suggestive, irritating, hasty, irreverent, proud, idle, and slanderous remarks. But when the controlling Spirit of God is in the heart, He will guide our speech. The tongue of the blessed, who has been to Calvary, is cautiously silent when provoked, confused or when faced with frustrating situations or trial of faith. We must be in charge of our tongues and our thoughts. That’s the life of the wise.
Thought For The Day: Those who have the mastery over the tongue, tame the monster.
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria. https://dclm.org/
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
