There are more bacteria in a person’s mouth than there are people in the world!

Mouths are filthy places. In addition to being filled with bacteria, they are capable of life-destroying slander, insults, and lies. And yet, they are how we express love, affection, adoration, and encouragement. They smile; they frown. They compliment; they curse. They are perhaps both the worst offender and the best friend.

Some of the greatest advice the Bible has to offer is found in today’s verse. Perhaps that is why God gave us two ears and one mouth. We should be twice as likely to listen as we are to argue, lecture, or give our opinions.

What would happen if we put this into practice — if we listened more actively to our children, to our spouses, to our friends? What would happen if the next time a verbal explosion occurred, we locked our lips and waited — waited for others, waited for God’s voice?

Fortunately, the tongue does not have a mind of its own. It is subject to our control. It can be tamed.

Perhaps if we can discipline it to sit still a while, there may be less dirt to clean up afterward.