The tongue is a pretty powerful thing

The tongue is a pretty powerful thing. From a scientific stand point it aids in digestion. Helps us tell the difference in bitter, sweet and salty foods. Hey it even helps get food out of our teeth sometimes. Okay now being real with those who would say that the tongue gives you immense pleasure. But getting back to reality the tongue can cause laughter and sadness in a person's life. A person can tell the world's funniest jokes that would have every single one cracking up and rolling on the floors. The tongue can help a person give some comfort in times of sorrow and loss. For instance, a friend's family dies the words spoken during that time to the friend will help ease the pain from the death.
However, the tongue can do another thing as well. And when we look at it from a Christian or biblical standpoint we see that it takes on a whole new meaning. The tongue can build someone up and also tear them down just as fast as they were built up. Encouragement can be brought forth from a person's tongue. For example, saying to someone that they can get through their struggle or they can accomplish their goals in life. Those are good things to hear from someone. That encouragement will give you the strength to do what is necessary. Oh my goodness the power that this little thing has is truly amazing. It boggles the mind at the sheer thought that this tongue of ours can pick up someone's spirit in a matter of seconds. Just like that a person can be healed and delivered from the test or trial. But not every single person on this earth uses their tongue for good some use it for the extent and purposes to destroy someone's life. Literally the tongue can kill someone. For instance, if something is said on the lines of I wish you was dead. Now, the person it was said about probably won't die right then and there but those words have placed a sickness in that person's life that might lead to their death.
Or another example is that "great" thing called gossip. That's right gossip that thing people do when they are jealous of someone else or do it to hurt the person they are talking about so they spread rumors and lies. Those rumors and lies are not even remotely true of the person that they are being spoken about. I mean why else spread it if you know it isn't the truth. A lot of people have been deeply and profoundly hurt by rumors that it can break a person's heart just thinking about it. Now, the worst offenders of gossip are people who are Christians, I mean I read the Bible and say my prayers every day, the Lord is the strength of my life, Christians. Yeah, that's right those people who are on the choir stand, on the various boards of the church, on the many auxiliaries and in the congregation. These people watch and wait for someone to mess up and then the claws come out and get in their little cliques or even wait to they get home and get on that phone and tell someone about what so and so had done. And of course, that rumor that is spread gets back to the person and is very hurt by it. Now, if we are all Christians and we are lights to the sin drenched world then why are we adhering to the book of Psalms where it says in Psalm 34:13 "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Now, that means don't talk about anybody and spread unfounded rumors about them like Sister so-so is this way or Brother so-so is that way. Do you know my gossiping brothers and sisters that you are speaking something into that other person's life? Like a spirit sent by the enemy to destroy them all because you don't like them for whatever reason. Why can't we be like the Psalmist who wrote in Psalm 35:28 "And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long." We should be doing more of that right there and not finding new ways of tearing each other down. And if you're one of those people who are a "gossip-hound" then you need to seriously take a hard look at yourself. But more importantly have a serious talk with God and let him deal with the way you feel about your brothers and sisters in Christ. And remember the words of 1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth." Be blessed my brothers and sisters.