I realize the older I get, I don’t necessarily get in trouble for doing stupid things, I get in trouble for saying stupid things.
This is probably the case for a lot of people. We know what is right and what is wrong. We know what we are supposed to do and where we are supposed to be. We know how to act and how we shouldn’t act. Our actions normally don’t get us in trouble….but our words do.
I was reading James throughout this week and it is amazing how God takes some verses and uses them to convict you and bring to your attention things you need to work on.
“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 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. 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. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
James 3:2-10
I love these verses. I love how God uses illustrations throughout the Bible. Here He uses fire.
Your tongue is a fire. A fire can help or it can harm. Your tongue can either help or harm others. You can burn someone down by what you say or you can use your tongue to warm someone’s soul by what you say.
Your is just a little member in your body but it can do great things….great things to lift someone up or tear someone down.
Don’t let your tongue get you in trouble for saying something stupid!
Think twice before you speak once!
Counted Faithful 