Upon reading Proverbs 10, I was amazed at the attention given to the mouth, tongue, and lips. Wondering how this simple little organ could be so powerful, I was just as surprised that this particular chapter mentioned nothing about listening. Why not? Listening is an active verb. One must take special intent to hear what is being said. To seek the message. But for both good and malicious use of one's own tongue, the speaker doesn't have to actively listen to what is said; herein is the most powerful message that gets into the heart thru the brain and out to the hands and feet.
The popular phrase for this today is "self-talk". Self talk is credited for being one of the most powerful
(perhaps the most) personal growth tools today. Complimentary to Biblical teaching as old as the Jewish wisdom of Proverbs, self talk can be the thing that prevents a sensitive, conscientious Christ follower from becoming all God has for him/her to be. While we would point to verbally abusive parents, spouses, bosses, those of authority in someone's life, we rarely point right back to the individual who is abusing oneself to show them how they are making a conscious choice to create or reinforce this verbal damage, through the mouth that sends the message straight to the ears with any need for active listening.
The New Testament is also clear on this topic. Paul talks about faith coming by hearing, and where is the strongest hearing position? That which comes into my brain in auto mode, without need to pause my attention and listen, those things I say to myself. James talks about the power of the tongue, and why is it so powerful? Because the route from tongue thru ear to brain is a superhighway of highest speeds to the heart. For someone else to say it and me to hear it, I must add this extra step of listening. But for me to say it, listening is not necessary; it happens on auto-pilot. I cannot prevent it.
Other areas of life warn us before moving into automatic mode. Warning: you are about to… this cannot be undone, except for … some dramatic method. Even something as simple as an online lesson planner warns a teacher, before pressing the button to automatically plan lessons for the entire year, that it cannot be undone without deleting the entire class and starting over. But the automatic messages we send ourselves don't have this "pause and think first" message attached – except as we come to believe the truth of the wisdom of Proverbs – that the mouth can do inflict great harm or produce wisdom.
So for those who want to grow in wisdom, herein lies the most effective way to begin and leverage the process. Watch your mouth. Because it is impossible to say something to yourself that does not move to some level of belief. And the damage can only be undone by an equal and opposite comment. But to equalize the damage, that opposite comment needs to be repeated and affirmed multiple times. The faith that affirms wisdom can be grown through the same process as that which denies.
What is the power of talk, whether wise or abusive? Consider just a few from this chapter alone.
Violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked (v.6,11). A chattering fool comes to ruin (v. 8,10). The mouth of a fool invites ruin (v.14). A perverse tongue will be cut out (v.31). The mouth of the wicked (knows) only what is perverse (v.32).
On the other hand, The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life (v.11) Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning (v.12), He who holds his tongue is wise (v.19). The tongue of the righteous is choice silver (v.20), The lips of the righteous nourish many (v.21). The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom (v.31). The lips of the righteous know what is fitting (v.32).
The message is clear. Perhaps here is the biggest potential area of growth for those who would not have certain benefits of inherited wisdom. The final inning offers opportunity for the grand slam home run. Victory is in sight for all who will adopt this simple discipline into their lives. Easy? No. But simple And available to all.
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