Introduction: Do the tongue and temper go hand in hand? Yes. How do we know? The book of James along with Solomon’s writings in Proverbs tells us. 

1. Two ears and one tongue! (James 1:19)

“19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift  to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”

A Christian lady once asked me this question: “Preacher, why do you think God gave us 2 ears and 1 mouth?” She continued, “To do TWICE as much LISTENING than TALKING”!

Needless to say, we had a big laugh!!

Secondly, she asked, “Preacher, have you ever seen cow manure?” To which I replied, of course. Then she said, “If you leave it alone, it will dry out fast, but if you stir it up, it will STINK more”!

I got it!! Do you get it?

The word “wrath” is ὀργή, (or-gay’), which is defined by impulse, anger, passion; punishment, vengeance. In other words, our Lord is instructing His children through the pen of James to not “fly off the handle”! Instead, let the fruit of the Spirit – self control – kick in!

Nine times out of ten, if that is practiced, it will end well, or at least better. 

2. Slow down to anger! (Prov 16:32)

“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

The nature of anger speeds us up; i.e. jump to conclusions. But rather than that, we should allow the Holy Spirit to work in our thoughts and reactions. It always ends better when we give room to the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion: There we have it…..the tongue and the temper. One can control the other if gone unchecked. As we’ve seen, it is best to let the Holy Spirit take control.