Watch What You Say

Watch What You Say

Reflections by Rev. Harry Stackhouse 

James 3:2-6,8-9 “For we all stumble in many ways, if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horse’s mouth so that they may obey us, we direct their whole body as well. Behold, the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by the strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder, wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.  So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.  Behold, how great a forest is set aflame by such small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the whole body and set on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell…No man can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God…”

You are a steward of every word you hear. What you do with things you have heard must be evaluated to see if they are edifying, unwholesome, or neutral in content. Weigh your words before speaking, because many things you say will heal or kill the hearers.  On the other end of every conversation is a living soul. King Solomon wrote that, “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21. As you speak remember God is listening; so you must let the words of your mouth and meditation of your heart be acceptable in God’s sight. Psalms 19:14.