Building on the Foundation

  In Proverbs 21:23, God inspired Solomon to write, “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.” Such a giant source of evil is our own tongues, that we find again, “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19). How often have we spoken thoughtlessly, “saying things which [we] ought not” (1 Tim. 5:13)? How often have we reviled or belittled others, spread gossip and rumors, cursed or spoken profane words , flattered or misled? If we’re honest with ourselves, we’d probably lose count on at least some of these! The apostle James wrote, 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell [lit. Gehenna]. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, ful...