“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” (James 3:5).
TEXT — James 3:1-5
Message
The world was thrown into chaos in 1914, when Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated. His death was not just the act of a gunman; it was the spark that ignited World War I, leading to the deaths of millions. What started as a single event grew into an inferno of destruction.
The Bible compares the tongue to fire: “Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!” A single careless word can destroy relationships, reputations, and even destinies. Like a match dropped in a dry forest, the wrong words can set lives ablaze.
Indeed, genuine teachers of the word of God carry great responsibility because their words hold power. Although everyone stumbles in speech, examine this striking comparison: The tongue,though small, can control the entire body like a bit in a horse’s mouth (v.3). It is like a rudder, steering the course of a great ship(v.4). An alarming imagery: “Even so the tongue is a little member,and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little firekindleth!” (v.5). One word of gossip, one slanderous accusation, one lie – each has the power to destroy a life, divide a church, and even ruin a generation.
What we say reveals what is in our hearts. A loose tongue signals an undisciplined heart. If a tiny flame can burn down a house, how much more can a reckless tongue destroy lives? Many homes, marriages, and churches suffer not because of great sins but because of careless words. Jesus said, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matthew 12:36). This means no word is insignificant before God. Do you think before you speak? Do you speak of encouragement or destruction? Do you spread truth or gossip? Instead of fuelling fire, let your words bring healing.
Thought for the day
Some folks would be better off with a perpetual “sleep of tongue”
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
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