James 3:5b-8 — Two Buckets

READ THIS: James 3:5b-8

5b 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.
 
WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Did you know that almost 85% of wildfires are caused by humans, and most of them aren’t even done on purpose? Even though they usually happen unintentionally, when they occur, they cause damage that can last a long time. How similar is that to the way we speak to one another?

We rarely think about the words we say to one another, especially if we are frustrated or annoyed with someone or something. God gave us incredible power when He gave us the ability to speak to one another, and that power can be used in two ways. The one and only Hardie Morgan always tells me that in every conversation we have, we bring a bucket of water and a bucket of gasoline, and we can choose which one to use in a conversation. Are you using your words to put out fires or to make bigger ones? If we let Jesus be the guide of what we say, our words can build others up rather than burn others down!

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. Why do you think James uses a fire to describe our words? What are other similarities you can think of that words have with fires?
 
2. Words are powerful and more dangerous than we realize, and we usually remember hurtful things others say to us more often than kind things… let’s change that! What is a kind thing that someone has said to you that really made your day? 

 
TRY THIS:

Ephesians 4:29 says that we should only speak in ways that will build others up according to what they need. Think of 3 different people you can build up in a different way through the way you speak to them, then do it!!!


Comments

  1. YooonahJanuary 30, 2023 at 4:26 AM

    I think that fire is like the tongue in the sense that it has the potential to do good, like keep someone warm or encourage someone with words. But in the same way if not used carefully both can have disastrous effects

    ReplyDelete

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