A Gentle Tongue

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Proverbs 15:4)

Our words matter. Every one of our words matter. For the one who is fainthearted, an encouraging word is necessary (I Thess 5:14). Those who are “down and out” don’t need a spiritual 2×4; they need an uplifting word. They need a gentle tongue.

Gentleness is an outflow of humility. There is no such thing as a prideful, gentle heart. Gentleness is “a quiet restraint when you are provoked by others.” This word in the Greek was used of taming and the training of animals.

Harold Hoehner explains: “For instance, controlled by the master’s will, a well trained dog is always angry at the right time and never angry at the wrong time. When such a person is wronged, he or she does not seek revenge, but when a wrong has been committed toward a brother or sister, or the body of believers, he or she has the power to address the situation. ” (Ephesians, pg. 507)

Gentleness is power under the control of God. This is why you can’t be prideful AND gentle.

Gentleness is a fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:23). Christians are marked by their gentleness (Tit 3:2).

We must walk with gentleness. Its opposite is “harsh, combative, overbearing, pugnacious.”

You might liken a gentle tongue to the image of a mother holding her baby. There is a sweet, gentle manner in how that occurs. Holding babies – at least, in my opinion – is more natural for mothers than it is natural for fathers. I mean – they had to name a way to hold a baby “the football” to even get a dad to learn how to not drop their own kids.

Gentleness comes from a humble heart. A mother is careful in how she handles her children.

We interact with people who must hear the right kind of word. And often, it is gentle tongue people need.