(1) Do not gossip
Proverb:18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.
Before any evil story whispered in the ear is passed on, it should be treated as the housewife treats apples for a pie ... first peeled, then quartered, and cored, then what remains liberally sugared.
(2) Do not use a multitude of words. Proverb:10:19 When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.
Your tongue reveals the nature of your thinking and your character. The divine Master Himself admonishes the children of men to "let your admonishes be yea, yea, nay, nay, for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil."
Matthew 5:37 But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.
(3) Thou shall not boast.
Proverb:27:2 Let another man praise thee, and not thine own mouth; a stranger, and not thine own lips.
A small man makes long, loud boasting in order to center the spotlight of attention on himself; the great man works quietly, Silently polishing the beacon that it may guide the ship safely into the desired haven.
(4) Thou shall not flatter.
Proverb:26:28 A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin.
Someone has said that "Flattery is like soft soap; it is 90% lye" - and you can count on the ratio being just about right. The words of the man or woman who would flatter you, according to the psalmist, who had a great deal of experience with that sort of thing, are "softer than oil, yet with drawn swords."
(5) Thou shall not grumble.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings.
The prescription for this malady is to saturate your life with loving kindness. Let it enter every pore and the process will be absolutely foolproof against the gnawing frets and worries that are worse than termites, to eat the soul out of you.
(6) Thou shall not backbite or slander.
Psalms:64:3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words. Psalms:64:4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.
The tongue that backbites or slanders is the weapon that empties churches, pours streams of bickering humans into divorce courts, fills our jails with wretched humanity, and lashes men and woman to Satan's kingdom.
(7) Thou shall not mock or make fun.
Job:11:3 Should thy lies make men hold their peace? and when thou mockest, shall no man make thee ashamed?
Let us learn sympathy and give our fellows a helping hand instead of mockery, no matter how peculiar or odd they may be. Remember angels visit the earth in all kinds of guises.
(8) Thou shall not lie.
Exodus 20:16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
The first recorded lie was told in the garden of Eden. Since then, the practice has spread like a plague throughout the whole earth. Everyone hates a lying tongue.
(9) Thou shall not swear.
Exodus 20:7 Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
Profanity is the official language of the devil's kingdom. Have no part in it.
(10) Thou shall not argue in anger.
Hosea 7:16 They return, but not to the most High: they are like a deceitful bow: their princes shall fall by the sword for the rage of their tongue: this shall be their derision in the land of Egypt.
Whatever the provocation is remember that "silence is golden" and that "a soft answer turneth away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger" Proverbs 15:1
Proverb 15:1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. |
