Two Eyes for Our Two Tongues

The tongue is both the deadliest weapon in the world and the best lover in the world. Tongues have broken millions and blessed millions. As James warns us, just behind our lips live a pyromaniac, a perverter, and a poisoner (James 3:3–6). But the tongue is also a praiser, a prayer, and a preacher. We may not have forked tongues, but we seem to have two tongues, one a killer, and the other a carer.

How do we kill our killer tongue and strengthen our caring tongue? Proverbs 15:1–7 tells that our two-tongue problem has a two-eyes solution.

We Have a Two-Tongue Problem (15:1–2, 4–7)

Solomon opens his tongue class with five descriptions of a caring tongue and five descriptions of a killer tongue. Have a look at your tongue as he breaks down the anatomy of a healthy tongue:

• A soft answer turns away wrath (15:1). A healthy tongue does not fight fire with fire, but fire with water.
• The tongue of the wise commends knowledge (15:2). Tongues that teach people are tongues that touch people.
• A gentle tongue is a tree of life (15:4). Kind and sensitive tongues produce life-giving fruit that feeds many.
• Whoever heeds reproof is prudent (15:5). A caring tongue is not a cowardly tongue. It sometimes has to speak painful truth to someone, but those who have learned how to take correction also know how to give it.
• The lips of the wise spread knowledge (15:7). It’s not a muck spreader but a seed spreader, planting truth wherever it goes.

Solomon also dissects a gangrenous tongue. Hold your nose as he starts slicing.

• A harsh word stirs up anger (15:1). This tongue flames and inflames at the smallest spark.
• The mouths of fools pour out folly (15:2). It’s a broken sewage pipe spilling its stinking contents wherever it goes.
• Perverseness in it breaks the spirit (15:4). A twisted tongue is a spirit smasher.
• A fool despises his father’s instruction (15:5). A tongue that cannot speak rightly comes with ears that cannot hear rightly.
• The lips of the wise spread knowledge; not so the hearts of fools (15:7). The tongue reflects the heart, and therefore a tongue that does not spread knowledge is the result of a foolish heart.

Two tongues are too terrible.

How can we amputate our deadly tongue and speak with a healthy tongue?

God Has a Two-Eye Solution (15:3)

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (15:3). Why is this verse about eyes in the middle of verses about tongues? God’s eyes are the cure for our tongues. Or, better to say, an awareness of God’s eyes is the best treatment for our tongues.

God’s eyes are everywhere, watching out for both evil and good words. Wherever there’s a tongue, God’s eyes are there. Wherever anyone’s talking, God is watching. And he’s not only watching, he’s judging and separating our words into two piles: evil and good.

An awareness of God’s all-seeing, all-knowing, all-judging eyes will slice off our evil tongue and strengthen our healthy tongue. The more aware we are of God’s eyes, the more careful we will be with our tongues.

God’s two eyes cure our two tongues.

Changing Our Story with God’s Story

The one greater than Solomon incarnated these verses. The God with everywhere eyes took one human tongue and fleshed out these verses perfectly. Even when Christ’s tongue was parched dry and tortured with bitter vinegar, his tongue never forked or doubled but stayed true and healthy. We confess our diseased tongues and trust in his healthy tongue for our salvation.

Summary: How do we kill our killer tongue and strengthen our caring tongue? Increase awareness of God’s eyes to increase the health of your tongue.

Question: How can you remind yourself of God’s eyes more frequently?

Prayer: I praise you, Lord Jesus, as the God with two perfect eyes and one perfect tongue.