Holding your tongue

"If anyone thinks he is religious and does not keep his tongue in bridles, but seduces his heart, his religious service is vain." James 1. 26

There are people who know how to speak their language and who express only well-thought-out sentences, but sometimes very far from their thoughts. This is the idea we have of a good diplomat. It is also the image given by a religious man capable of employing, in all circumstances, the appropriate words. Holding one's tongue in our verse does not make sense.

Holding one's tongue in bridles means expressing only thoughts truly felt and under the guidance of the Spirit, for self-control is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

To hold my tongue in bridles is not to condemn myself to silence, but to watch over my thoughts, to reject without delay those which come from my own fund and to judge the root which produced them . For example, if a root of pride brings into my mind thoughts of jealousy towards my brother, I reject these thoughts, or else they will sooner or later be translated into words or deeds.

On the other hand, if I nourish my thoughts of the love of Christ, I will have love for my brother, for as the Lord said, "From the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. The good man, good treasure, produces good things" (Matthew 12:34, 35).

If so, I will hold my tongue and I shall be kept from :

- boasting or hypocrisy which consists in displaying more feelings (religious in today's verse) than one feels,

- gossip, that absence of love that attacks others and can do terrible work of destruction in the family, neighborhood or church (Jam 3).

Before we say anything, let us ask these questions : Is this true ? Is that good ? Is it necessary ? At all times let us pray : "Lord, put a watch on my mouth, watch over the door of my lips !" (Psalm 141: 3, NEG).

Remain sensitive to the action of the Holy Spirit who always wants to direct our thoughts to Christ and what pleases him. He will maintain in us a sincere love for all those around us.

The Apostle James gives us advice : "My beloved brethren, let every one be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger" (Jacob 1:19).

Source (To pleasing the Lord)