Control Your Tongue

A small force can yield catastrophic results, little bits turn gigantic horses, a small rudder puts huge ships on a new course, and a small flame can consume an entire forest so as the tongue, a small part of the body but can make great boasts. This little piece of muscle is capable of defiling the entire body. It sets the whole course of a person's life. We need to be alert to the danger of an uncontrolled tongue. Like harmful gossip and conceited boasting must not issue from our lips. Instead we should speak words of encouragement & enlightenment, of grace & blessing. Last Saturday, I attended our BCBP CLP and the speaker, Bro. Hermie Rodil, shared to us something by Socrates. Allow me to share it to you too. It's entitled:

TRIPLE FILTER TEST

by: Socrates

In ancient Greece (469 - 399 BC), Socrates was widely lauded for his wisdom. One day the great philosopher came upon an acquaintance that ran up to him excitedly and said, "Socrates, do you know what I just heard about one of your students?"

"Wait a moment," Socrates continued. "Before you talk to me about my student, let's take a moment to filter what you're going to say. The first filter is TRUTH. Have you made absolutely sure that what you are about to tell me is true?"

"No," the man said. "Actually I just heard about it and..."

"All right," said Socrates. "So you don't really know if it's true or not. Now let's try the second filter, the filter of GOODNESS. Is what you are about to tell me about my student something good?"

"No, on the contrary..."

"So," Socrates continued, "you want to tell me something bad about him, even though you're not certain it's true?"

The man shrugged, a little embarrassed. Socrates continued. "You may still pass the test though, because there is a third filter - the filter of USEFULNESS. Is what you want to tell me about my student going to be useful to me?"

"No, not really..."

"Well," concluded Socrates, "if what you want to tell me is neither True nor Good nor even Useful, why tell it to me at all?"

Let's control our tongue. We make sure no fire escape from our mouth. May our words bless, not burn, those to whom we speak today.