Our Tongue is a Fire

James 3:1-9 (NIV)
Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We 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.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or 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. 5Likewise 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. 6The 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.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
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I felt led by the Holy Spirit to share the following scriptures.

It is incredible how we can speak blessings and yet curse with our mouth at the same time. James here is teaching that the tongue is a deadly poison, one that can kill. The tongue can also be a giver of life. The tongue is such that it can produce an entire forest fire with one little spark. Imagine. That is alot of power.

From a negative perspective, we can destroy one another in the manner in which we speak. One word can cause a person extreme hurt, can cause depression to set in, can make one angry, irritable and even violent. Only one word, a little spark of evil.

Positively, we build one another up, encourage and love with just a single word. One loving word can alleviate depression, rejection, suicidal thoughts, loneliness, heartache....the list goes on. One word can bring a smile to one's face, can give courage, ambition, excitement and love. Only one word, a little spark of warmth.

Our words can produce great fires. A great fire can wipe out whole communities, destroy lives, greatly affect the economy and cause complete and total devestation. A great fire can produce heat, warmth, and maintain life.

What fire are you producing? Are you a giver of life or do you taketh away?