Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. – James 3:9
Stop and think a minute about the damage caused by careless words, gossip, lies, sarcasm, hurtful comments, and bitter arguments. In the book of James, he gives us some strong instruction about the power of the tongue . . .such a small part of your body, but so powerful . . . for good and bad.
While we all learned the old saying, “sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me,” it’s not really true, is it? The truth is: Broken bones heal much quicker and easier than wounds caused by hurtful words.
Paul said, “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.”
In light of the immense power of words, both for good and for ill, you ought to guard your tongue carefully. From the silence of not answering back when baited into an argument, to not spreading gossip, to forgoing that sarcastic remark that would’ve gotten a laugh at someone else’s expense. This discipline is a powerful way to use (or not use) your tongue to bless and encourage others.
– Steve Arterburn
Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means. – Ronald Reagan
