WHAT COMES OUT OF YOUR MOUTH WHEN YOU SPEAK?

SCRIPTURE:
Likewise 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.  
(James 3:5)

MEDITATION:
Many people spend a lot of time exercising and body building.
There is certainly nothing wrong with trying to improve one’s health.
There is also nothing wrong with trying to get stronger.
However, no matter how strong a person might be, 
the part of the body that can do the most damage is the tongue.

Unfortunately there are some who exercise this part of the body 
way too often and as a result, cause a lot of damage in the lives of others.
Some are so busy concentrating on what they plan to say next, 
that they seldom listen or comprehend what the other person is saying.
That may be one of the reasons James gave us good advice about listening.
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be 
quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. (James 1:19)
This is probably why God gave us two ears and only one mouth.

Think about how much information 
we could miss out on because we failed to listen to others.
If two people are both more concerned with what they plan to say than 
listening to the other person, then having a conversation seems useless.
Not only are both being rude, but apparently they have too much egotism.

One of the greatest things a believer can do 
is listen to what others have to say.
One of the most damaging things a believer can do 
is say unkind things about other people (gossip).

James implies that just a few words 
can start a firestorm of damage in the lives of others.
Some cleverly conceal their gossip by starting it with something like, 
“We need to pray for (fill in the blank) because…..” and then they launch 
into gossiping about every detail about the person to be prayed for.
Some are driven by a desire 
to be the first with the latest information (good or bad) about others.

There is a story of a woman in England 
who came to her vicar with a troubled conscience. 
The vicar knew her to be a habitual gossip—she had 
maligned nearly everyone in the village. 
“How can I make amends?” she pleaded. 

The vicar said, “If you want to make peace with your conscience, take a bag 
of goose feathers and drop one on the porch of each person you slandered.” 
When she had done so, she came back to the vicar and said, “Is that all?” 
“No,” said the wise old minister, “you must go now 
and gather up every feather and bring them all back to me.” 

After a long time the woman returned without a single feather. 
“The wind has blown them all away,” she said. 
“My good woman,” said the vicar, “so it is with gossip. Unkind words 
are easily dropped, but we can never take them back again.”

ACTION:
How good of a listener are you?
Do you interrupt others often when they are speaking?
Do you have a habit of discussing the faults of others?
Are you the type of person that focuses on the good qualities in others?
Would others refer to you as an encourager or a discourager?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for being my greatest encourager. 
Teach me to be an encourager to others. Forgive me for any damaging 
things I have said about other people. Help me to be aware of how I can 
hurt others when I fail to control my tongue. Remind me of how my 
testimony of faith in You, can suffer greatly whenever I use unkind 
words, profanity, or off color remarks. Show me how to speak to, and 
about others with kindness, so they will see Your Spirit is living in me.”