Soul Warnings - Words

 And so the tongue is a small part of the body yet it carries 

great power! Just think of how a small flame can set a huge 

forest ablaze.  And the tongue is a fire!  James 3:5-6a TPT

Yesterday I woke to a red flag warning.  I haven't been under a red flag warning in a long time, ever since I moved from Northern Arizona 17 years ago.  In the Southwest one pays close attention to such warnings.  The warning is predictive for the most part, though it surely causes hearts to tremble when you or people you care about live near an active wildfire in a red flag warning zone.  

A red flag warning, for those unfamiliar with the term, indicates conditions where low humidity and high winds combine to make conditions favorable for fire to spread like crazy.  It's a heart-stopping diagnostic for hot shot teams on assignment at an active fire.  It says, "Be careful.  This is dangerous."

James gives a number of "red flag warnings" to his Jewish followers in the letter that bears his name.  It is his warning regarding the tongue that caught my attention today.  James compares the tongue to fire.  Fire burns.  It destroys.  "Just think of how a small flame can set a huge forest ablaze."  (James 3:5b TPT) Perhaps James had a picture of fire behavior on a dry, windy day in mind when he penned these words.  I like how The Voice translation turns the phrase.  "And do you know how many forest fires begin with a single ember from a small campfire?"  (James 3:5b VOICE)  A careless word spoken without thought or hurled in a moment of anger has the potential to tear down what may have taken years to build.  Just. Like. That.  I know I am guilty.  I have not always represented the gospel well with my words.  

So what is the prescription for such an unwieldy component?  James goes on to speak of wisdom.  He says, "Who in your community is understanding and wise? Let his example, which is marked by wisdom and gentleness, blaze a trail for others."  (James 3:13)  You see, while fire can be destructive, it can also be purifying.  Our words are no different.  When we choose to use words laced with wisdom, gentleness and love, the results are peace-inducing and  life-giving.  James has a word for this as well.

Heavenly wisdom centers on purity, peace, gentleness, 

deference, mercy, and other good fruits untainted 

by hypocrisy.  The seed that flowers into 

righteousness will always be planted in peace 

by those who embrace peace.  James 3:17-18

The year I spent time focusing on the word "relate," I found it helpful to ask myself the question "Will these words be life-giving?"  If I couldn't honestly answer "Yes" then I would leave those words unspoken.  That year I was able to repair many relationships that had soured due to misplaced words on my part.  The new life that sprung up from well-placed, life-giving words of affirmation and reconciliation was stunning.  While I have not slipped entirely back into my careless way of communicating, I recently became aware that I'm also not as careful as I used to be.  So today I challenge you, I challenge me, to ask "Will this give life?" before you speak.  

Then wait and see what happens.  It's going to be a great day!