Now we have our topic of the lips and tongue in Proverbs 10:19-21. There is so much to deal with regarding these two little organs in the human body. James speaks of the wickedness of the tongue in James 3:5-10, several passages in Proverbs, and many other places. The point being is the tongue is an extremely dangerous and vile organ that can cause so many problems and issues. If we, who are reading this, stop to consider our own words and tongues. There are many times we say something, or are involved in a conversation that later, how many of us walk away thinking, "I should not have said that", or, "I hope what I said was not taken wrongly". How many of us can say that we have been there? Then, when we run back into the individual or group, we apologize, cover over, or correct, as the situation demands, what we said before? Indeed, none of us are innocent through this.

The Bible tells us this trouble will be with us as long as we can talk. This is what we find in our text. The Bible says there is sin when there is a lot of words. The more words, the more sin. Solomon explains this deeper, and much harder when we turn to Ecclesiastes. We can look at Ecclesiastes 5:3, a fool uses a lot of words, Ecclesiastes 10:13-14 gives us an unflattering view and thought of a fool and how those around him look at him. Instead, like a poison, it can either kill and give life (Proverbs 18:21). We have seen how people are destroyed by what is said. Sadly, we have destroyed more people than we have built up, and those who love this kind of power will eat the fruits, both good and bad, from it. If we are honest, it mostly will be the negative side.

As a Brethren, our history has been built on simplicity, and there is nothing more simple than what we find in Matthew 5:37. We believe that our words should be measured, weighted, and handed out with soberness, recognizing the weight of what we say and how we say it. This is why there is danger of sinning in words. Of course this does not mean we never say anything, but we must be aware of what we say. Is this carried throughout the Bible?

When we turn back to the Proverbs text, the second part draws a comparison between the one who has a lot of words to those who holds back his words. This text is supported in great Bible passages which should cause us to long and desire for this kind of speech. To begin in the Old Testament, we find the one who truly has knowledge is the one who does not just talk, or ramble (Proverbs 17:27). Of course the man of understanding will also have a calm spirit, which we will discuss this when we get to this text. This branches to the truth of wise speech. Proverbs 15:28, there is a study to answer, and in Proverbs 17:28, even fools, who remain silent, are thought to be wise. In the New Testament, besides the Matthew passage, we also can look at James 1:19. As the statement goes, we have two ears and one mouth. God must have intended for us to hear twice as fast as we speak. James speaks to that. If we are able to do this, we can control our tongues, and thereby the Bible says that we are perfect (James 3:2).

How valuable is this kind of life that may be of less but heavier words? Proverbs 10:20 tells us the tongue of the righteous is choice silver. That is because the righteous is balancing their words, and measuring them out. Their words are godly, and based in the truth of the Bible and the reality of our faith (Pietism). Again, the Bible helps us to understand this in a greater way with passages such as Proverbs 15:4; 16:13; 25:11-12, and Jesus' own words in Matthew 12:35. This choice silver shows what we know today.

There are different grades of silver. All silver can have SOME value. And yes, a foolish conversation can bring some value, but it is not often, and it is hard to get. The words of a righteous man, who is living their faith, will have a choice silver level that is worth much more.

There is, in contrast, the wicked who have little worth, which we kind of addressed already about the foolish conversation. To illustrate this, we can look at the very beginning. Look what God saw in Genesis 6:5. Jeremiah also points out how evil the heart is, and it is not one to be trusted (Jeremiah 17:9).

Lastly, we jump to Proverbs 10:21. Here we come to a circle of the words that give life or death. We can again call up Proverbs 15:4 and find there is a tree of life, Job 4:4 strengthened those who are weak, Jeremiah eats the words of the Lord (Jeremiah 15:16). It is so true that good words is one that brings life. If you are married, tell your wife she looks beautiful. Tell your friend that he did a great job on something. You will find life that springs up in their eyes. This is part of the life that is talked about. The other part of life is the life that is parted out is the life that comes when we speak of the gospel and the salvation found in Jesus Christ. That makes our words worth more than all the wealth in the world. This is what helps and grows those around the ones who speak like this. The opposite is also that those who do not have this type of speech and tongue will die due to no wisdom. This commentary is carried throughout the Bible. Proverbs 1:29, 31; 5:23, etc.

Now we have looked at this, what is, or should, be our desire now? The Brethren would be reaffirmed in their commitment to simple speech and letting the yes be yes and no, no. For all who are Christians, our desire should be that our words actually reflect the truth we say we believe. It is sad to hear a "Christian" talk in a way that reflects the world and their conversation. It is a farce for Christianity, a black mark against the individual, and worse of all, a slap in the face of God who saved us and made us new.