Be Wise with Your Words

April 19, 2023

Anything out of control in your life can harm other people and damage

your close relationships. Uncontrolled anger, lust, addiction,

spending, drinking, or ambition can create enormous problems.

But the greatest destroyer of relationships is an uncontrolled tongue.

In the Bible, James compares the tongue to a tiny spark because that’s all that is needed to create a great forest fire.

“The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it

can do. A great forest can be set on fire by one tiny spark. And the

tongue . . . can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of

destruction and disaster.” James 3:5-6 (TLB).

A careless word can ignite your relationships and make them all go up in smoke.

Have you ever met a verbal arsonist?

Their words are dangerous. They use words of discouragement,

disappointment, accusation, criticism, sarcasm, condemnation, or

attack—the list is endless.

Gossip is especially destructive because it spreads like an airborne

virus. Careless words have destroyed careers, friendships, and families.

Instead of heading in a destructive direction, you can choose to use

your words to build others up. Catch people doing something right and

tell them about it. Affirm their character when they make difficult

decisions. Lift them up with words of encouragement.

Building others up with your words isn’t difficult, but in our world, it is uncommon.