Where I come from in Northern Ghana, bush fires are regular occurrences in the dry season between December and March. I've witnessed many acres of farmland set ablaze when the winds carried tiny embers from fireplaces or from cigarette butts carelessly thrown by the roadside. With the dry grassland vegetation, all that is needed to start a devastating fire is a little spark.
That is how James describes the tongue, calling it "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" (James 3:6). A false statement made here or backbiting there, a vicious remark somewhere else, and relationships are destroyed. "The words of the reckless pierce like swords", says Proverbs 12:18, "but the tongue of the wise brings healing". Just as fire has both destructive and useful elements, so "the tongue has the power of life and death" (18:21).
For a conversation that reflects God's presence in us and pleases Him, let it always be "full of grace" (Col. 4:6). When expressing our opinions during disagreements, let's ask God to help us choose a wholesome language that brings honor to Him. Anger can make us speak our mind when we should be minding our speech.
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