Herns Eugene’s BLOG

One of the most distressing crises is a fire out of control.  The pain of seeing the destruction can be almost unbearable.  Personal belongings going up in smoke.  The beauty of nature destroyed.  Even loss of life itself.  In this passage James compares the destructive power of the tongue to that of a forest fire.  A lot of us have been hurt by someone’s destructive words recently.  Give your pain to God.  Let him comfort you.  Here are some other highlights from the passage James 3:1-12.

• vs 3-4, I think one of the reasons the tongue has such controls over our lives is the power it has to hurt and bring down people.  Though it may be small in stature (i think I’m using the word right here), it carries a powerful punch.
• vs 5-6, James also compares the tongue to a fire and to a world of evil.  These two comparisons is to remind us if the tongue isn’t controlled it can ban do great damage and the person who isn’t controlling their tongue is pretty much corrupted.(OUCH, did I read to much into that text?)
• vs 7-8, These verses emphasize what a challenge it is to control the tongue, and I believe it’s difficult because if we just constantly speak whats on our mind without thinking of the consequences is foolish.  THE TONGUE CONTROLS YOU!!  The tongue has the power to poison people and relationships, thats how powerful it is.  Hearing some nasty, demeaning, put-down words from someone so close to you, can cause one to go into a depress mode or into even hiding.
• vs9-12, Pretty much James uses some analogies from nature (springs, trees, vines).  These inconsistencies of the tongue show that the tongue if it’s going to be used right should produce encouraging words.  It shouldn’t be cursing people down and at the same time trying to praise God.

My question to you the reader is this, what damage has your tongue done recently?  It is good to give people affirmation that we run in contact with on a daily basis.  Make that a priority.  God help me to be self controlled about the ways I speak to others.