Sometimes the greatest truths are found in cartoons. Innocent little drawings that may intended for children, but can apply to adults as well. And when little piglet speaks, Poo Bear listens – and so should we.
Even the most spiritual among us fail to control their tongue from time to time. From personal experience I can tell you that even with the very best of intentions, discussing another person can very easily morph from a talk about their well being to gossip or perhaps something even worse. As a matter of practicality, Christians need to be very careful what they say and the book of James is one of the best commentary on this subject that I know. The apostle 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.
Christians: introspection is good, practical religion is very good and perfection is to be like Christ. After all, isn’t that the goal of everyone who becomes a follower of our savior? To control the tongue is difficult and may seem impossible at times, but make every effort to do so, you will be glad you did!