What does the Bible say about a loose tongue?

(Wisdom to consider the next time you get tempted to engage in useless chitter chatter )

The tongue has been deemed most powerful yet untamable! That little soft boneless piece of flesh that knocks on our teeth to give out sounds that is some how understood or misunderstood by many has quite the bit of power. 

We are taught that we can “speak things into being...” even The Four Agreements, for those who believe in it, speaks about being “impeccable with your words.” Or “making daily affirmations till they manifest. 

The Bible speaks a lot about the power of the tongue. Even in genesis God SAID “let there be...” and it became. 

Additional common scriptures that indicates the power of the tongue include: 

Proverbs 12:18 - "There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

Proverbs 18:21 confirms this by saying, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."

Matthew 18:18, which proclaims, "Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

So if the tongue has such high regard and apparent power why are we not more careful in the way we use it? 

Why aren’t we more intentional with the conversations we tend to be so quick to engage in? 

Or the words we speak over our lives? 

Consider the following verses as you make a decision about how to effectively use your tongue. 

The Bible says: 

Proverbs 13:3; “Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."

Ephesians 4:29; "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

Proverbs 26:20; "Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop."

Matthew 12:36; "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak."

Matthew 12:37; "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Proverbs 29:20; "Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

Our words do not go into thin air and disappear, they go out and wait for us in the future. With that knowledge what steps can we take to ensure we do not fall victim to our own loose rumbling? Selah