September 4

Sep 4 - Today from Proverbs 4 we look at verse 24
"Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips."

The epistle of James is often referred to by scholars as 'the Proverbs of the New Testament'. If you are at all familiar with this epistle, you are probably aware that he dedicated over a half chapter to the subject of the tongue (3:1-12). Immediately following this pithy discourse, James takes on the subject of 'genuine wisdom' for the remainder of the chapter (3:13-18). Although the writers of the Bible did not write in chapter and verse, they did write in blocks of thought. It is not coincidence that James married these two topics in one block of thought. As we regularly read through the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament, we frequently come across verses referring to our use of words. When you stop and think about it, one of the great attributes that separates man from the animals is our ability to reason, formulate thought, and articulate our ideas and feelings through a complex vocabulary of words. We marvel when some biologist spends years training an 'intelligent' ape to sign some of the most basic of thoughts and emotions and then make some quantum leaps as to the possibilities of their equality to man not in ability - but in possibility. But when you look at the marvelous achievements born of the fruit of man's reason and understanding - the 'signing apes' are far less than inferior or primitive, they are not even remotely in the same class as man.
Man was created in God's image. That is what uniquely sets man apart from all of the rest of the animal kingdom. We were created with the unique abilities of reason and the ability to articulate in order to commune with God and to worship and glorify God. To 'glorify' God literally means 'to make weighty' or to 'intensify'. Perhaps we could relate to the term better if we were to say that to 'glorify' means to 'advertise one's reputation'. Man was created to advertise God's reputation. Man was given the ability to reason and articulate thought in order to reflect God's character. That is exactly how it was in the beginning - when things were still good. Then sin entered the picture and all of creation became distorted - including man's speech. Man no longer used his tongue solely to advertise God's reputation, he used it mainly to promote his own reputation. The tongue became the most useful instrument of man's self-centered heart. Thus James connects the concepts of the use of the tongue and of genuine wisdom. Wisdom is understanding God's original purposes for creation, and the tongue is to be the most useful instrument in applying that understanding. Knowledge is of the mind - wisdom is of the heart. The tongue is to be an instrument of the heart. We cannot, as James puts it, 'tame the tongue', without first having our hearts changed.
James introduces genuine wisdom with this statement; "Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in humility that comes from wisdom." (3:13). Then he describes genuine wisdom in verse 17; "Wisdom from above is first of all pure; then peace-loving, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere." This is a description of the character of Christ. The character of Christ is referred to as 'the fruit of the Spirit' in Galatians 5:22-23. Man cannot tame his tongue because his heart has been perverted and corrupted from its original intent and purpose. We get our tongue under control when we give the Lord control of our heart. We do that by dying to 'self' in Christ Jesus. When we practice this most basic kingdom principle, we will find ourselves growing in our purpose and ability to advertise the reputation of a loving, just, merciful and saving God who originally created this now perverted and corrupted world good. We have been enabled by His Spirit to reflect His character in speech, in attitude and in deed. They all work together from the issue of a pure heart - cleansed by the blood of Jesus.
Our greatest work is not to do good, but to die to self.