James 3:10 KJV
[10] “Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
Our thought in this verse is a continuation of our last verse. James reminds us again not to allow blessing and cursing out of the same mouth. You see, a double tongue is a hypocritical tongue. Our speech can confirm our faith, but it can also condemn our faith. It can reveal any hypocrisy that may be within us.
Some people are good at talking out of both sides of their mouths. What they say is determined by who they are speaking to. They base their speech upon the present conversation. Hypocrites have learned the art of saying the right things at the right time. James says there should be no hypocrisy in our speech, but it should always be the truth seasoned with grace. It should honor God and should be true at all times.
Guidelines and boundaries must be set in place when we are speaking. We must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and fill our mouths with words that are governed by His Word. Our heart must be surrendered, and our mind must be saturated with the Book to overcome the hypocritical tongue.
Let us, as Christians, not allow the wrong speech to dominate us. Quickly find an exit whenever the conversation goes down the wrong avenue. Purpose to turn all negative speech toward the upward way. Turn those negative words into words of faith and godliness. Confess any contaminated speech, and make it right with anyone that we may have influenced in the wrong manner. No one has to have a hypocritical tongue. We can repent over it before God and man. We can forsake the hypocrisy and practice a steadfast speech that is pleasant to all those around us.