Tongue: A Flame of Fire

Our tongue, according to the Bible, is a small portion of our body, but it boasts greatly. The power of our tongue is like a small bit in the mouth of a horse that controls the entire horse, or a small rudder on a vast ship in the hands of an excellent captain setting a course in the face of the greatest winds. A single word from our mouth may appear insignificant, but it has the power to accomplish almost anything—or to destroy it!

James also compared our tongue to a fire. A single spark can start a forest fire. Our mouth corrupts the entire body, sets fire to the entire course of one’s life—hell sets the tongue on fire itself. In the Message version, it says a tiger can be tamed, but no one can tame a tongue. Words we speak to others and words we hear from others could last a long time, whether good or harmful. Painful words have the potential to cause long-term harm to another person. It is not a wound that will heal soon. A word of encouragement or a complement, on the other hand, can motivate someone for the rest of their life.

Let us treat ourselves and others with kindness by choosing to halt and beg God for grace whenever emotions or situations trigger us. Let us talk about love, hope, and kindness in a world full of hatred and injustices on social media, at work, and at home. We are called to serve as the world’s salt and light.