Thinking about the Tongue...part 1

Recently I heard a radio broadcast on the famous passage from James 3 about our tongues. Well, this past week I read two writings in the devotional book I'm reading about this same passage. When I run into the same passage multiple times in a short period of time, I try to pay attention.
First, I want to share the passage for you to read and think about.

James 3:1-12
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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. 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. 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.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

It is amazing to me, really mind-boggling, to think about the power of the tongue. I've heard many lessons over this passage through the years. One misspoken word can crush a friendship or destroy some one's trust for years. I'm sure we all have examples of how a spoken word has hurt us and left a scar across our heart. It's not easy to forget those hurtful words.

We know words can hurt, but how careful are we to really guard the words that come out of our mouths? Think for a minute about the words you say to the people you are with everyday. If you are at home like me, you may not have very many people that your words reach. Remember that those little ears are listening to every word you say. Are the words you say worth their repeating? How do you handle the salesperson who interrupts your lunch? Are your answers to your children's repeated questions said in kindness? What kind of impression do your words leave on the person standing behind you in line at the grocery store? Do you use kinder words with the clerk at the gas station than you use with your spouse?

Cold words freeze people, hot words scorch them, and bitter words make them bitter.~~ Blaise Pascal

I am going to be focusing on the tongue in my posts this week. I think we (myself included) need reminders from time to time about guarding our tongues.