James tells us that the one who can control his tongue can control anything (Jas. 3:2). He says in the same verse that we all offend in many ways. The clear implication is that none of us have full control of our speech-for if we did, we would not be offending in “many things” the way he describes. No man can tame his own tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison (v. 8).
This should drive us to the grace of God, which is the only way that wise speech can be manifested in this corrupt world. Does a man claim insight or wisdom on any subject? “Let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.” If it is not spoken with this kind of meekness, then whatever it is, it cannot be wise in any heavenly sense.