"Stick out Your Tongue"

When I used to go to the doctor as a young boy he would begin the examination by telling me to stick out my tongue. I wasn't sure why, maybe it was a way to check my hearing. "He stuck out his tongue, so his hearing is fine." What I didn't know then (but I do now) is that doctors know the tongue reveals a great deal about a person's physical health.
What we learn from the Bible is that the tongue is also a great indicator of our spiritual health. Therefore the Bible has a great deal to say about how we use our tongue.
James chapter three is a great passage that deals with the tongue. The power of the tongue, the inability of man to tame the tongue are some of the things covered. James also says the tongue acts in our lives the same way a rudder acts on a boat. It is small in comparison to the size of the ship, but it determines the direction of the entire vessel. So it is true in our lives. A person's whole reputation hinges on the tongue. The book of Proverbs is filled with wisdom and warnings surrounding our talk. Here are some verses to ponder about the tongue from Proverbs chapter 10

11-14 "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses. On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks sense. The wise lay up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool brings ruin near."

18-21 "The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever utters slander is a fool. When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense."

31-32 "The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut off. The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverse."

Do you want to know what is going on in a person's heart? "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks". If you want to know the difference between a foolish person and a wise person, the tongue will tell the story. How is your spiritual health? Not sure. Stick out your tongue and have a listen.
David prayed what we all need to pray daily in Psalm 141:3

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!"