Have
you ever said something and almost immediately regretted it? If you
said “NO”, then you are a special person indeed. For the rest of
us, what we say gets us into trouble more often than we would like to
admit. I like this picture because causes you to pause and think
about what you say – BEFORE YOU SAY IT. When I think about these
things, I turn my thoughts to the book of James for instruction. The
apostles says…
James
3 ( World English
Bible )
[1] Let
not many of you be teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will
receive heavier judgment. [2] For
in many things we all stumble. If anyone doesn’t stumble in word,
the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body
also. [3] Indeed,
we put bits into the horses’ mouths so that they may obey us, and
we guide their whole body. [4] Behold,the
ships also, though they are so big and are driven by fierce winds,
are yet guided by a very small rudder, wherever the pilot
desires. [5] So
the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how
a small fire can spread to a large forest! [6] And
the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the
tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of
nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna. [7] For
every kind of animal, bird, creeping thing, and thing in the sea, is
tamed, and has been tamed by mankind. [8] But
nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly
poison. [9] With
it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who are
made in the image of God. [10] Out
of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these
things ought not to be so.
[13]
Who
is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good conduct
that his deeds are done in gentleness of wisdom.
James
seems like a very practical person to me; very down-to-earth in what
he says. In short, this passage says to me- watch what you say! I
especially like verse 13, for it says to me that I should be wise and
have good conduct, not just talk about doing something about our
speech.
Now
that I think about it, that picture should have four gates, not
three. The fourth one would be: Consider to whom you are speaking.
Jesus had some pretty harsh words for the Pharisees, remember?
One
last word, - from Jesus…
Matthew
10 ( WEB )
[16] “Behold,
I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as
serpents, and harmless as doves.