Proverbs 18

Solomon has a lot to say about the mouth today in Proverbs 18.
Oh the mouth. Such a small part of the body – yet it reveals so much about a person. I’ve heard that dentists can pinpoint many things about your overall health just by examining your mouth. I think Solomon, along with other writers of scripture, would say we can judge a lot about your spiritual and mental health by looking at what comes out of your mouth.

4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. – James 3:4-6

Solomon writes:

2 A fool finds no pleasure in understanding
but delights in airing his own opinions.
4 The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
6 A fool’s lips bring him strife,
and his mouth invites a beating.
7 A fool’s mouth is his undoing,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
13 He who answers before listening—
that is his folly and his shame.
19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city,
and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.
20 From the fruit of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled;
with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied.
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

That’s a lot to chew on (pun intended). We can do so much damage with our tongue and mouth. We can destroy a relationship in seconds if we are unable to bridle our tongue. Yet with that same mouth we praise God.
How much easier life would be if we could each learn to control the overflow of our heart. And of course there’s more to it than just taping our mouth shut. We have to strive to fill our hearts with Godly things rather than ungodly things if we ever hope to change the overflow of our heart.

I’ve said this before, but if I spend the weekend with Laurie – guess what I’m talking about Monday through Wednesday at least – Laurie. If I spend the weekend watching things I shouldn’t be watching, hearing things I shouldn’t listen to, laughing at things I shouldn’t laugh at – guess what I’m going to talk about the next week?
The same goes for our mouth with Godly talk. If we fill our hearts with God – He will naturally overflow.

Lord, fill my heart with you. Help me strive to want more of you and may my life be an overflow of your love.