Your tongue can be as choice silver and your lips can be a precious jewel.  Yet, James said that the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity… and it is set on fire of hell,” Jas 3:6-8.  Tonight we’re going to discuss “the tongue of the just,” Prov 10:20 and “the lips of knowledge,” Prov 20:15.  In these two proverbs Solomon compares these two things to choice silver and a precious jewel.

The tongue of the just – Prov 10:20.  Concerning “the tongue” people say that actions speak louder than words.  That’s true.  However, the truth of the matter is that words do speak.  Watch what you say.  Solomon said, “Let thy words be few,” Ecc 5:2. People are often not careful with what they say.

Concerning “the tongue of the just,” it’s not just what you say, but the heart from which you say it, that makes your words so valuable.  “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh,” Matt 12:34. Jesus repeated what Isaiah said, “This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me,” Mk 7:6.  “A man’s only as good as his word,” Rodd Thunderheart.  I recently read this quote, yet I don’t know who said it, “When you break your word, you break something that cannot be mended.”  

As Christians, we are just and we can use our tongues as the just to speak things the rest of the world isn’t talking about.  The world may not want to hear what you have to say, but there are individuals in the world who certainly need to hear it.

The lips of knowledge – Prov 20:15.  Many wise words are spoken in jest, but they don’t compare with the number of foolish words spoken in earnest.  For example, when a man is rambling on, you might say to him, “If you’re trying to drive that point home, you might want to get off at the next exit.”  Those are wise words spoken in jest.  On the other hand, most political rhetoric qualifies as foolish words spoken in earnest.

What people need today is knowledge spoken by the tongue of the just, and it’s as priceless and rare as a precious jewel.  We have this knowledge in our Bible and our friends need to hear it.  Don’t get caught up repeating everything else the world is talking about.  You don’t know if half of what you are repeating is even true.  Most likely you’re repeating that which agrees with your opinions.  Why not tell them what God said, instead.  That’s what they need to hear.

Conclusion: Solomon is encouraging us with these proverbs to speak from the tongue of the just with the lips of knowledge.  That way your actions and your words will match and your friends will be helped.  And remember, “One thing you can give and still keep is your word.”