Words of Fire (part 1 of a three-part series)

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.” James 3:6a

A bolt of lightening with sufficient power to explode a massive tree, or a single spark from an unattended camp fire, can start a forest fire that will burn for weeks, destroying everything in its path, and exhausting the available resources. Words spoken in a towering rage, or breathed in a gentle whisper, can ignite a flame that will destroy a life, conclude a ministry, or damage a relationship beyond repair.

The tongue, along with the mind that controls it, may be small things, but they have the capacity to inflict damage as surely as fire and smoke have the capability to injure and harm.

The New Testament book of James tells us that we are apt to stumble in this matter of our words. One statistic tells us that the average person speaks five to eleven million words a year. That’s thirteen to 30 thousand times a day when you can trip over your conversation. That seems awfully high to me, but I know some folks that can handle it.

The tongue has immense power to speak foolishly, angrily, inappropriately, and in so doing, harm another individual or wound those for whom God cares. And not only that, it can extend beyond an individual to spoil his influence and limit his capacity to serve God and others in the family.

Our tongues were designed to praise God. The highest calling of the human mind is to glorify God in all things, and allow that obedience to power holy hands lifted in prayer, beautiful feet sharing the Gospel, and mouths that speak no corrupt communication of any kind, rather speaking that which edifies and encourages.

Tacking sloops and cutting horses remind us that it is a small thing that dictates direction. A tongue out of control will set its own pace and course. Never forget that the words that sear and mutilate will also create a back draft that frequently consumes the speaker as well.

Brethren, these things ought not to be so! (see verse 10)