What is the strongest muscle in the human body? Some say its the tongue, but its hard to determine which muscle is the most powerful because muscles dont work alone.
But we do know that the tongue is strong. For a small muscle, it can do a lot of damage. This active little muscular organ that helps us eat, swallow, taste, and begin digestion has a tendency to also assist us in saying things we shouldnt. The tongue is guilty of flattery, cursing, lying, boasting, and harming others. And thats just the short list.
It sounds like a pretty dangerous muscle, doesnt it? But heres the good thing: It doesnt have to be that way. When we are controlled by the Holy Spirit, our tongues can be turned to great good. We can speak of Gods righteousness (Ps. 35:28) and justice (37:30). We can speak truth (15:2), show love (1 John 3:18), and confess sin (1 John 1:9).
The writer of Proverbs 12:18 spells out one of the best uses of the tongue: The tongue of the wise brings healing (niv). Imagine how we could glorify the One who made our tongues when He helps us use it to bring healingnot harmto everyone we talk to.
INSIGHT
:Proverbs warns us of the consequences of our words (Prov. 10:20-21; 12:13,18; 13:3; 16:24,27-28; 18:7; 22:5; 25:11-12). Wrong words are likened to a powerful fire (16:27) and weapons of war (12:18; 25:18; 26:18). A wise person is one who is restrained and judicious in his speech. Interestingly, we are reminded that if we keep silent, we will never say the wrong thing (10:19) and we will even be thought to be wise (17:28).