Daily Devotional for Wednesday, March 13

How the Tongue Can Consume Things

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” James 3:5.

Legend has it that the Great Chicago Fire, which burned down much of that city, was started by something so minor as a cow tipping over a lantern in a barn. It spread quickly and destroyed much property. No one saw that coming, nor would they have expected it.

Earlier, James compared the small tongue’s ability to control our conduct to a bit in a horse’s mouth or the small rudder piloting a giant ship. In this verse, he compared the destructive power of the small tongue with a tiny spark that ignites a colossal fire. Is it not true that rumors spread much faster than truth? Once a tale is out in a community, the facts do not matter anymore, and nobody bothers to tell them.

The tongue and fire have other similarities as well. Few would dispute that fire under control can have many benefits and can be used for much good. Great preachers and teachers of God’s Word all use their mouths to accomplish that work for God.

On the other hand, many would argue that fire, like a mouth, out of control can cause massive devastation; untruth can be spread, reputations ruined and lives destroyed. Do you know that what comes from our mouths most accurately reflects what is in our hearts? “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).

What do you do with your tongue? Do you use it for good, edifying believers or telling the gospel to unbelievers? Or do you use it for evil by teaching untruths, gossiping or pushing the non-believing away from Jesus Christ?

JUST A THOUGHT
One of the most false statements ever uttered is, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

Wally Fry