Be Careful What You Say

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 

                                                                                      (James 3:4-8 KJV)

For good or for bad the tongue can set the course of our futures.

James compares the tongue to a ship's rudder.

Although, small in comparison to the rest of the ship the rudder steers the ship. Likewise what proceeds from our mouths can have a great effect on our futures as well as the futures of those around us.

James also compares our tongues to fire. The humongous fires out west and north of us have had some serious effects on the people around the country. The air we breathe has become difficult to breathe at times especially for those who have asthma or allergies or other like diseases. Who even know why these fires start? Some start from lightning strikes. Some are accidental. Others are started by arsonists. The fires spread out. The smoke moves through the air directly affecting people even a thousand miles away. The smoke dissipates and travel around the globe. Fires affect more than just the people who are in their immediate vicinity.

Likewise our tongues can start some major fires. The evil; the lies, that we speak can spread like wildfire harming not just the people that we intend to harm; but, can have a lasting negative effect on people all around us and sometimes world-wide depending on who is spreading the evil. If it is the national media then the wildfire can spread pretty far and fast.

The words that we speak can have a positive or negative effect on the community. May God help us to control our tongues so that we do not steer the ship in the wrong direction or purposely start any wildfires in order to harm others.

God's Peace - Pr. J.

The Tongue

"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison." (James 3:7-8 NIV)

I visited the Jacksonville Zoo this week. The variety of animals that God has created is just mind-boggling. Some of them I had never heard of before seeing them.

The giraffe is such a graceful animal and apparently gentle as well. There was a long line of children waiting patiently to feed the giraffes. The giraffes would quickly and gently stick out their tongues and take the leafy food that the children were offering them. 

Human tongues are not also as graceful (grace-filled) or gentle. The human tongue can be as deadly as a poisonous snake as it can strike without warning to take anyone or anything that gets in its way down.

The human tongue is often used to lie, deceive, coerce, steal, and a multitude of other sins to get what the owner of that tongue wants. It is a very sad thing when we use what God has given us to destroy rather than to build up others. 

May God help us to use our tongues; the lips that He has given us to proclaim Good News to all people and to glorify His Holy Name.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Tame The Tongue

"For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:7-8

I admit that I have picked up a bit of slang and my grammar is not always the best; but, I tell you there are days that I simply do not understand the English that is being used by many today. What sometimes sounds like insults; derogatory remarks toward or about others, I am told actually isn't! That's just the way people talk today. 

I also understand that in this country, according to the first amendment, that we have freedom of speech. But, is that an excuse to falsely slander others? Is that an excuse to get on the internet or television and insinuate or make threats against the safety and well-being of others? It seems as though there are many who seem to think it is. Freedom of speech doesn't actually include threatening the life of others. It is actually illegal and depending on the severity, one can be charged with a crime for doing so.

It can be most difficult to control the tongue when one is angry or hurt; but, in general conversation; when you actually have time to think about it!? Oh, my! There are many days that I just want to run back to my little corner of the universe and sit in silence watching the alligators in the backyard. They usually just lie there and maybe swim around a bit. They do not live in attack mode just for the sake of attacking and harming others.

It is hard to tame the tongue. It is even harder when one has not actually learned the difference between what is appropriate to say and what is not appropriate; what is legal and what is not legal. Yes, I can be bit legalistic. The law can be a great curb to keep us from doing things that would harm others. Think: treat others as you would like to be treated.

Some days the untamed tongues are running so rampant that I can only retreat to my corner and sit in the sheer silence and listen. I listen for our Father's gentle whisper, "Do not fear. I am with you now and always."

God's Peace - Pr. J