James 3:1-12
"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
(PROVERBS 15:1)
Have you heard the phrase "adding fuel to the fire"? When people disagree, conversations can degenerate quickly. I saw this repeatedly firsthand with my prisonmates through the years. One careless voice inflection or one wrong word, and a discussion turns into an argument, or an argument into a fight.
Proverbs teaches us principles for walking in the light in a world darkened by sin. The wise man will use a soft answer to turn away wrath while the fool will use harsh words and stir up strife. James tells us that "the tongue 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..." (3:6). I think about how my tongue and my word choices set the whole course of my life on fire, even to the point of imprisonment.
It's not always just what we say, but also how we say it that leads to problems. Our soft answers will lessen conflict and turn away anger. Don't "add fuel to the fire"; let the fire of Christ's love fuel your heart for Him.
INSIGHT
IF YOU WISH TO DOUSE THE FLAMES OF CONFRONTATION, USE A SOFT AND GENTLE ANSWER.
READ THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Exodus 33-34
Psalm 42
Luke 6
James 3:1-12
New International Version (NIV)
Taming the Tongue
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 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.
MOVING WITH COMPASSION [PART 1]
with Mary Frances Bowley
What is it about the Cinderella story that moves us? It is the redemptive tale of a girl saved from slavery. In the world of human trafficking, many girls are still waiting for a savior.
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