From Reverend Michael Faircloth:The Problem with the Tongue

We've all done it. Gossiped, complained, judged, whined...what we say can hurt,disocurage,and even alarm family, friends, and neighbors. So let's see how we can think before we speak. Get your Bibles and let's turn to some of the Lord's words. James 3-3-12. "When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water." What the Lord is saying through his apostle James is that we need to be mindful of what we are saying. Before we speak consider: Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it hurtful? Are we being careless and unthinking in what we say? Remember, you might have a chance to apologize, but hurts still remain. And as stated in verse 6, words can be like fire: they can spread destruction quickly and once the words are spoken, they cannot be taken back. The damage is done. So my dear friends in Christ, speak in such a way to please God.