The Proud Tongue

11-August 2011 The Proud Tongue  

Proud means : feeling pleased about something that you have done or something that you own, or about someone or something you are involved with or related to.

         It habitual for people to boast about  and take pride about their family, about their own self,  their education , position and posts,  what they possess in the form of wealth and  of course about their future plans.

Nothing is harmful if it does not have any impact on others. But if the tongue boasts in an arrogant way, coupled with malice, than for sure  it needs a check.

“…no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.” Psalm 12:1

“Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogance come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. 1 Samuel 2:13

         Proud   and conceited talks will destroy your personal profile and will reveal who you are. Vain words and pompous talks expose your evil heart.  

        In the Bible we read about the fall of Lucifer, it reveals the proud thought he had and he gives the same  thought to the proud and arrogant people.

Beware! You will be brought down to the  lowest depths of the Pit. It is the end.

 “I (Lucifer) will ascend into heaven, 
      I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; 
      I will also sit on the mount of the congregation 
      On the farthest sides of the north; 
      I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, 
      I will be like the Most High.” Isaiah 14:13-14

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of”. Luke 6:45

“You boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:16

           A proud look, a proud talk etc are hateful in the sight of God, God hates a proud tongue.

Bible tells that,

“To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Proverbs 8:13

        A proud person embedded with pride, arrogance, egotism and with a conceit heart filled with arrogant plans and liable to adopt a dual role with a false face. It produces sin.

“Therefore pride is their necklace; they clothe themselves with violence.” Psalms 73:6

 “For the sin of their mouth and the words of their lips let them even be taken in their pride: and for cursing and lying which they speak.” Psalms 59:12

“In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them “Proverbs 14:3.

“Haughty eyes and a proud heart --the unplowed field of the wicked—produce sin.”(Proverbs21:4)

“The proud [NIV: arrogant] have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.” Psalms 119:69

        As a Christian we must be very cautious in the way we keep ourselves as a living witness by guarding our tongue from pompous talks.

“Do not love the world or anything in the world…….For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2:16

“Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.” Psalms 31:18

        Remember the hurting proud utterance will not touch you if you have a ‘fire-wall protection’ from your Heavenly Father.

“…no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the LORD.  Isaiah 54:17 

       You are His apple of the eye, and God will hide you under the shadow of thy wings, and from the wicked that oppress you.

"The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaketh  proud things"… “(Psalm 12:3). 

“Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; 
 Though they join forces, none will go unpunished.” Proverbs 16:5

     Try to adorn humility and kindness because pride will only quench God's Spirit and damage your testimony.

Plains view from Ghat road @ Kodaikanal-TamilNadu

Cut off your pride!

   Turn away from it!

     May God Bless you!

Gossipping tongue

10-August 2011 Gossipping tongue

 

 Gossip means A person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts.Rumor or report of an intimate nature. (Webster’s Dictionary)

             Basically, gossip is a destructive need for personal satisfaction, making a person feels good about himself by destroying the character and reputation of another. When we gossip, or even participate in gossip, we are actively and voluntarily engaging in a destructive purpose, characterizing , which is equal to murder and theft.  Gossiping and lying  often go hand in hand.

            You know “misery loves company.”  Some people cannot stand the thought of someone else succeeding, whether spiritually, physically, or  financially  or materialistically ; hence  they hunt for reasons to accuse and harm the reputation of the person. The Bible clearly warns us:  

“Do not spread false reports.” Exodus   23:1,

“Do not go about spreading slander among your people.” Leviticus   19:16;

   “he who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander,… Psalms 15:2-3

                When we start   attacking and spreading gossip over petite things or matters with on base,we must definitely have a check, on our heart, on our thoughts, and on our inner motives. We spread gossip about ourselves and about someone else which is harmful and is destructive. It is for self -satisfaction with a jealous spirit, or with some sort of insecurity, people indulge in gossip. God has no part in it.

“Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to.” 1Timothy  5:13.

• People love to gossip and spread rumors!
• Avoid inquisitive and intrusive persons, for they are sure to be gossips, their ears are open to hear, but they will not keep what is entrusted to them.
• We are spreading gossip starting right from our home, and extended to outside the world.
• Where is our credibility?
• Where is our character?  
• Can our life stand the scrutiny of an outsider?
• Have you ever thought what is social face holds?

         We should be careful in our speech and in actions.

         We must try to live above criticisms and away from these persistent talkers.

 Read. What the Scripture says:

“A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person keeps a secret.” Proverbs 11:13;

 “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4;

 “A perverse person stirs up conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” Proverbs 16:28;

“A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much. Proverbs 20:19;

 “Whoever rebukes a person will in the end gain favor rather than one who has a flattering tongue”. Proverbs 26:23

       When we kneel before the throne of judgment, We will be judged by our deeds as well as the way we handle the gifts God has given us for constructive activities.

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken”. Mathew 12:36

             "….make it your ambition to lead a quiet life:

    You should mind your own  business”1.Thessalonians 4:11-12.

 Don't speak evil of someone if you don't know for certain,and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?

Hilly view- uphill to Kodaikanal-TamilNadu

Fire and swords are slow engines of   destruction,

 compared to the tongue of a Gossip.

The Flattering Tongue-

           9-August 2011 

           Flattery is to compliment excessively and often insincerely given, especially in order to win favor. Sincerity is sorely lacking in human relations today. Flattery or sweet talk, which  is another way that the tongue can be used for evil. People flatter continually starting from home to workplace.In the work place and offices  people continually involved in internal politics and flattering in order to seek favour or, to get promoted to higher level.

           Flattery is also a sin of the tongue. The Bible speaks of flattery as a characteristic of the wicked and of a sinful person. People from different walks of life trying to keep a record of the flattering speeches and conversations. Flattery is just a form of lying, and it has no place in the life of a Christian. It is an another produce of the misuse of the tongue. 

“With flattery he will corrupt …. When they fall, they will receive a little help, and many who are not sincere will join them. Daniel 11:32-34 

We are encountering people with flattering nature  everywhere, speaking something  before us  and contrarily with others, in other occasions, in order to please others or to fulfill their  self -centered wishes.

“...Who speak peace to their neighbors, But evil is in their hearts.” Psalm 28:3

“ A lying tongue hates those it hurts, and a flattering mouth works ruin.” Proverbs 26:28

“Those who flatter their neighbors are spreading nets for their feet”. Proverbs 29:5.

         Do not trust a person if he / she speak too sweetly with you, for no reason and pray to God to give you strength to resist them.

“With flattery he will corrupt those who have violated the covenant, but the people who know their God will firmly resist him” Daniel 11:32

          Speaking sweetly in the face of others and backbiting behind them is sin. This sort of personality ruins the inter -personal relationships.

 “A gossip betrays a confidence; so avoid anyone who talks too much.” Proverbs 20:19; “May the LORD silence all flattering lips and every boastful tongue—Psalm 12:3

           With God given wisdom and  Grace beware of insincere people and their praise to raise  our hopes but based on  unfounded or deceitful  representations.

         If you have a clean heart and no  grudge  or feeling of resentment stored – you can say  

 “I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone; for if I were skilled in flattery, 
   my Maker would soon take me away. Job 32:21-22;

 “Lead me, LORD, in your righteousness…. make your way straight before me. Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies.” Psalm 5:8-9; 

              “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,

                and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.

               For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45

Ghat Road to Kodaikanal - Tamil Nadu

“Flattery is the worst 

         and 

 fastest way of showing 

      our esteem”

A Lying tongue or an untruthful speech

8-August 2011 

 “Speech is the index of the mind." A person's character can be described by the way they use their tongue.

Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44), You know he wanders to conquer the world and “…he has so filled your heart that you have lied. (Acts 5:3) thus the  evil thoughts we imprint in our mind  comes out as hurting words. "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Mathew. 12:34)

 From where the lie originates: Bible states

“Even from birth …from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies. Psalm 58:3

“They make ready their tongue like a bow, to shoot lies; Jeremiah 9:3

Lies are an awful way to create our traits.

              1.  Lie  is hateful in the sight of God: 

The Holy Spirit is identified as ‘the Spirit of Truth’.  Satan, on the other hand, is ‘the Father of Lies’. 

 “The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.’ Proverbs 12:22 .

God said that he hates a lying tongue (Proverbs.6:17).and “all liars… will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. (Revelation 21:8)

2.  It damages others:

It has been said that ‘no physician can heal the wounds of the tongue’. The Words uttered purposefully to hurt the feeling of others. We damage others by our gossips, tale-bearing, back-biting, whispering rumours ,false accusations, loose and unfair talks, murmuring, and unfair criticism- the list is endless.

Beware !

“  A fortune made by a lying tongue 
   is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare. Proverbs 21:6

"Friend deceives friend, and no one speaks the truth. 
They have taught their tongues to lie;  they weary themselves with sinning". Jeremiah 9:5

“…….they speak arrogantly against the righteous.” Psalm 31:18

3. It is harmful to ourselves:

 The danger of building lies are multi-dimensional and  we are liable to lose our integrity, our self-respect, any resemblance of good conscience. 

‘An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble.’Proverbs 12:13 

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit". Proverbs 18:21

 “careless talk costs lives”. Even knowing this if you cannot tame your tongue which attacks others,then you are supposed to be   a murderer  and you have to face the consequences.

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity. Proverbs 21:23. ‘Let their lying lips be silenced,( Psalm 31:18) and whoever pours out lies will perish. (Proverbs19:9)

Bible says clearly the grave end of liars:

 “Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices” Colossians 3:9

“keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. (Psalm 34:13)

. …..who may dwell in your sacred tent? Who may live on your holy mountain?

chrysanthemum @ Tirunelveli- Tamil Nadu

The one whose walk is blameless, who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from their heart; whose tongue utters no slander, who does no wrong to a neighbor, and casts no slur on others; who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind; who lends money to the poor without interest; 
 who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things will never be shaken. Psalm 15:1-5

              Praise the Lord