Desire to Inspire: Pay attention to the words leaving my mouth (or fingertips).

Last night we studied James 3:1-12; about taming the tongue. This is something I’ve made a conscious effort to work on – I tend to be either quiet or sarcastic. If it’s a group of people, I am quiet. If there are only one or two, then I make up for the times I don’t talk :-). Regardless, I am very sarcastic. It is ALWAYS in my head, and sometimes the sarcasm makes it out of my mouth. I am often misunderstood, because of these two extremes.

So, while I haven’t memorized this portion of scripture, I am very familiar with it {I stink at memorizing – I get the gist but that is about it}. What was I reminded of last night? [v8] No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil. It is full of deadly poison. It is only by God’s strength in grace can our tongue be controlled. Our tongues can get us into so much trouble. And so quickly!

If you’re not familiar with this portion of scripture it is the part about putting a bit in the mouth of a horse to control such a large animal, rudders on ships being small yet used to steer huge vessels, and the tongue being a small part of the body but it is what sets the tone of each person’s life.

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 person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

…

8] but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (James 3:5,6, 8 NIV)

How sobering to think our words are like a spark. A thoughtless or carelessly spoken word can hurt and damage a life, whether a person or a relationship; just as the result of a spark is a fire, sometimes contained – sometimes not. As long as there is oxygen and something to burn a fire does not go out. When one person says something and another repeats it when it wasn’t their place to speak. That is the start. Don’t be one to feed the fire by repeating.

I have often told my children – if it isn’t your news, you don’t need to share it. You know that itchy-to-say-something feeling, that is the restless evil in verse 8. Often that feeling is justified by Christian women by deciding it is the Holy Spirit telling us to say something. Um, no. That is justification for gossip. Just like prayer requests in a group, if it isn’t about you – don’t share it in the name of asking others to pray. Unless, you’ve been specifically asked to by the person requesting prayer.

The Holy Spirit doesn’t give us conviction for someone else. He might convict us to pray for someone else – but NEVER to talk about one person to another. {Note: If you’re concerned about someone’s safety and need to seek wise counsel that is different – and is not what I’m talking about.} If you wouldn’t say it to the person, or they wouldn’t say it to the person you are telling – what makes you think it is your business to say anything?

Have you ever been on the receiving end of someone else’s ‘good’ intentions?

I have and it’s not fun. It is where my conviction to watch the words leaving my mouth came from. This is also part of why I have an issue with facebook. The patterns I see on fb follow the philosophy of it being a platform for unaccountable*, non-thought out, spewing of momentary thought. Regardless of who it is aimed at – everyone reads it, many are hurt or left wondering what you really meant. Besides that I have a problem with feeling like when I post a status update I’m standing up in the middle of a crowd saying “Hey, look at me – I’m talking!”…ya, I’m a dork.

The ironic thing is – even though I desperately don’t want to hurt others with my mouth – it has to be a daily decision, my mouth is not naturally kind. I was reminded again in verse 8 – I can’t tame/control my tongue. I am utterly helpless to be successful. I can’t even fake it. I can only stay in close relationship with Christ and allow Him to work through me and He can stop my mouth because of my willingness.

 

Can you believe it? Less than a week of 31 Days is left! Today is day 25. I’m also linking up to Royal Daughter Designs for Desire to Inspire.

*I say unaccountable because if you are hurt by something said you are expected to not really believe it because after all – it’s just facebook. There is no time you are not accountable for the words you say.  So why if it is broadcast – in print to who knows how many, not just by a few hearing – on facebook is it not supposed to hurt? {okay, stepping off my soapbox now}