Wormy Living

Did you know that earthworms never sleep, have five hearts, eat our leftover organic matter and turn it into rich top soil? On top of that they are hermaphrodites. That means they have both male and female reproductive organs and secondary sexual characteristics.

We Christians have a lot in common with worms. Another meaning of the word hermaphrodites is ‘somebody that combines two very different features or qualities or seems to belong to two different classifications at once.’

We say we want to lose weight but refuse to give up desserts.

We talk of getting a college degree but won’t study.

We speak of paying down our debt but instead run up our Visa bill.

James must have known a few hermaphrodites. He points out that out of one mouth comes two different ways of speaking, praise and cursing. That sounds both hermy and wormy to me.

James 3:9-12- With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water (NIV).

We refine our speech on a Sunday morning, only to spend the afternoon whining about the preacher.

We smile and greet a neighbor, but later complain about him to another.

We’re guilty of wormy living.  The question is what will we do about it? James gives these painfully clear instructions. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.

Prayer: Lord, forgive us for shaming you with our mouths. Give us the grace to stop it right now. In Jesus' name. Amen.