For most of this year, I would like to deal with something that is very harmful, and in many instances, fatal to mankind. In fact, according to scripture, it is the most deadly agent in the world today. The Bible declares that life and death are the direct results of its power. People, this deadly agent I am referring to is the tongue.

Let us look at the way the Creator designed the human head. Each one has seven openings: the number of completeness. Every human has three pairs of openings: Two eyes, two ears, and two nostrils, but the Creator restricted the seventh opening to only one: the mouth.

I’ve met many people and asked them if they wished they had more than one mouth and each of them answered emphatically, NO. There is a good reason why we have only one mouth, and that rests with our Creator. This one opening has caused more problems than all the other six put together.

If you looked up in a Bible dictionary or concordance and found all the words relating to the mouth, there would be several such as "tongue, words, speech, lips, etc. There is no area in our personality more directly related to our total well being than the mouth or tongue.

Consider Psalms 34:11-13. This passage is in regards to the fear of the Lord. Where does this fear begin? The psalmist writes, "Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking lies." Being able to keep our tongue from evil is not only a difficult task, but it is a sure way to usher us into the fullness of God.

As a result of fearing the Lord, one will enjoy life and many good days. In addition to Godly fear, we must discipline ourselves regarding the use of our mouth because out of it proceed blessings and cursing.

The writer of Proverbs states "He who guards his lips guards his souls, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin" Proverbs 13:3. Your soul is your whole personality. It is the real you. This is the area where weakness will be manifested and where the enemy will gain access first.

The book of Proverbs 21:23 states, "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keep himself from calamity." The vital area to protect is your mouth and the tongue. If you guard these, you guard your soul and your life. The failure to do so will bring us to calamity.

Proverbs 15:4 states, "a wholesome tongue is the tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit." Notice the connection between life and correct use of the tongue. Perverseness means "the wrong use." To misuse the tongue is a breach or a leak in the spirit. People, we must keep a tight reign on our tongue if we are going to obtain the blessings of the Lord.

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat of its fruit" Proverbs 18:21. The events that occur in each of our lives arise as a direct result of what we say. That is why the writer warns us to guards our tongue. Since the power of this member is so great, we must pray that God will help us in our efforts to discipline ourselves regarding its use.

By Naomi J. Brown