Control your tongue

"... If we could control our tongues, we could also control ourselves
in every other way" (James 3:2).

A saying goes," We are like cats; we lick ourselves with our tongues!"
When someone spreads gossip, mark that person carefully. Why? Because
if they talk to you about others,they'll talk to others about you.

The Bible warns us about 3 things:

(1) A HASTY TONGUE. "Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is
more hope for a fool than for him"(Proverbs 29:20). If you take time
to get the facts, much of the time you'll speak differently. Hannah
prayed so passionately for a child that Eli the high priest thought
she was drunk. When the disciples saw Jesus walking toward them on the
Sea of Galilee, they thought He was a ghost. So think or, better yet,
pray before you jump to conclusions.

(2) A FLATTERING TONGUE: "... There is no faithfulness in their
mouth...they flatter with their tongues" (Psalm 5:9). Say what you
mean and mean what you say. Be genuine. When you flatter people, you
manipulate them for your own ends. Don't do that. Give it to them
straight. If you love them, be truthful with them. God has made each
of us a watchman, who will be held responsible if we fail to deliver
God's message to those around us (Ezekiel 33: 7-9 ; Acts 20: 25-27)

(3) A JUDGEMENTAL TONGUE. Jesus said," Judge not, that you be not
judged. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and
with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you" (Matthew
7:1-2). If you live long enough,you'll be guilty of many of the same
things you're so quick to condemn in others. Besides, you don't have
all the facts; only God does (1 Samuel 16:7). How you deal with other
people determines how God deals with you.