James 3:2 & 6 –
<2>… For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. … <6>And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body.
How may times have we said something that we later regret? This week? Yesterday? The majority of my life I have decided to get something that bugs me off my chest so that it will not eat at ME later. In doing so, many times I don’t think before speaking and often say hurtful things!
Look at history. Hitler was one of the most dynamic speakers and led his people in ways that were EVIL. His solution to their problems was to create a Master Race – and to exterminate those who did not fit his model. Most would not follow such instruction. But these were desperate times, and basically good men followed orders, which perhaps played to their own prejudices and justified their actions because of the tongue of their leader.
James talked about how someone preaching the word is held to a higher standard. The potential for damage in misusing ‘the tongue" created problems. This standard could be applied to all of us. We are in essence living the word. If we are not watching our words carefully, we are going to get into trouble. I know ALL about this!
Proverbs 16:27 “Scoundrels create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze.”