THURSDAY January 9, 2020
The Unbridled Tongue
Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
James 3:3-5
James made a good point about our tongues––if the tongue is unbridled––it boasts great things. We can understand the simple concept James taught us about how people bridle a horse to control the direction the animal should go. The horse is trained to obey its owner. How different it is with our tongues––they can be uncontrolled!
The apostle gave to us another simple illustration––ships. Imagine how incredibly big some ships are, and yet the captain can control them from the helm by moving the rudder. I have been on huge, six-story ships and have seen how ships are controlled, but men do not control can control their tongues.
The tongue is such a small member of our body, but what a fire it can spread when it speaks! Honestly, as we are all sinners, each of us has been guilty of saying words that we ought not to speak. It is foolish to speak hastily. It is important to think before we speak. Proverbs 29:20 tells us: Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
If we speak hastily before we think our words through, we will offend, hurt and damage the heart of someone. We need to be careful with our words. We can apologize to those we have hurt, but once words have been spoken, they can never be taken back. People may forgive us for what was said to them, but realize those spoken words will be remembered.
Of all the members in the body, there is none so serviceable to Satan as the tongue.
~Thomas Brooks~
For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!