Big Mouth

Have you ever had one of those moments when you wish you’d kept your mouth shut? Oh, boy, have I ever. 

 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (Yikes!)

 We all stumble in many ways. (Yes, you and me both!)

 Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 

 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. (Examine conflicts of any kind and always there is one person who said one word too much!)

 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. (Is it possible that heartburn results from that fiery tongue?)

No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. (Be on guard!)

Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. (Pray not to be guilty of speaking with a forked tongue, a double-edged sword. (From James 1:1-12)