Day #6: A Flame and a Sword

A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows keener with constant use. ~Washington Irving


I live in a rather large family, with seven other brothers and sisters, and all of us know how to push each other's buttons. In fact, we've become very skilled at using our mouths to rile a sibling that needs riling, and usually, our efforts are rewarded with a pleasant yelling match. 


The human race has been created with the ability of great good, and great evil. James 3:6 says, "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." Yes, a simple muscle as small as the tongue has the ability to give life, or bring death.  From the 11th, to 20th centuries, duels between two men were a common occurrence, and would often occur when one man would challenge another to a fight, in defense of his honor. Most of the time, it was started by one man simply insulting another. Personally, I would let someone call me anything they wanted before I would risk my life trying to defend my honor, but to each his own I guess. The point is, what we say has the power to change and affect a lot, and we, as Christians, are in this world to be a light to the darkness. To use our tongues to bring peace, instead of violence or destruction. It is given to us as a tool, and like most tools, our tongue is not to blame for what it says. What we say comes from our hearts, and our minds, and once we learn how to control our feelings and thoughts, then we will have control of our tongues. Matthew 15:11 tells us,  "Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man." 


It is very easy to give in to the desire to use our tongues for harm, but this is the nature of man. We must learn self-control, and remember the power of our tongues. One of the most harmful ways that we can use our tongues is to gossip. I have felt the pain and destruction that gossiping can bring and I would urge you to do your best, to not give your two cents behind someone else's back. I like quotes,  "Fire and swords are slow engines of destruction, compared to the tongue of a Gossip." ~Richard Steele


Nothing we say is insignificant, whether it be a simple, "How are you?", or a long-winded blog post, we will give account for it all.  


"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken." ~Matthew 12:36