Tame your tongue
James advises us to: “Tame our tongues for they are a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8).
However, we too often give in to the temptation to spread a story. Whether it is true or not makes no difference, because each time the story is retold we feel a sense of power and a sense of lordship. By the way, did you hear about the visitor to a small Georgia town who was walking down Main Street when a pit bull suddenly attacked a small boy? Without thought for his own safety, the passer-by instinctively dragged the dog off the boy killing it with his bare hands.
A reporter who witnessed the incident shook the hero’s hand and said, “Tomorrow the headlines will read: ‘Brave Local Man Saves Child by Killing Vicious Beast.'” The man replied, “I’m not from here.”
“No problem, the headline will read: ‘Georgia Man Saves Child by Killing Dog.'”
“As a matter of fact, I’m not from Georgia, I’m from Ohio.”
The reporter glared at him and said, “In that case, the headline will read: ‘Yankee Slays Family Pet.'”
James wants us to understand that too many of us like to separate the wheat from the chaff and then spread the chaff. James knows the devastating power of the tongue therefore he admonishes us: “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, deceives himself and his religion is worthless” (James 1:26).
There’s an old adage that says: “If you really want to know about a person’s character, watch how that person treats a waiter or waitress. Does he treat this person as a person, or merely as a servant?”
James is reminding us that kind words aren’t meant only for friends. We’re to offer them to everyone because they, like us, are made in God’s image. Therefore James says: “That since everyone is made in God’s image, we cannot bless God and at the same time curse those who are made in the likeness of God” (James 3:9-10).
Our words have the power to destroy; they also have the power to strengthen, encourage and affirm. As the people of God, we are called to be “friendly, gentle, kind, helpful, and sincere,” affirming and encouraging others because they, like us, are created in the image of God. If we are going to be the kind of people who use words wisely, then we’ve got to cultivate an inner life that sees everyone as a friend created in God’s image.
Roger Lemke, is pastor of Fishers of Men Lutheran Church. The church is at 10360 Stringfellow Road. Call 239-283-1170 for service times and/or additional information.