In November of 1980, after a very dry autumn, on an extremely windy day an arsonist lit a fire in the tinder-dry brush just above San Bernardino, California. The high winds quickly fanned the flames up the mountain toward the town of Crestline. While firefighters were trying to contain that blaze, the same arsonist drove to the east and then back to the west, lighting separate fires in each location. Many of the people who lived on the mountain had only a few hours’ notice to evacuate their homes for several days, so that they would not be trapped if the flames came up that far. Several homes in San Bernardino were destroyed, killing at least four people. Forest fires are devastating!
James says the tongue is just as devastating and powerful when used carelessly, or without regard. He says it is a “world of evil.” It seems all of creation can be tamed by man, yet this one little part of man cannot be brought into line. No human can tame this “restless evil, full of poison.” Many a despotic dictator has corrupted nations. Many a church has been torn asunder because of the tongue. People who would never set fire to their neighbor’s house can commit spiritual arson.
It’s hard to think that such a little thing can create such big problems. James says that this negative power of the tongue ‘is itself set on fire by hell.’ This literally means “being inflamed by Gehenna,” which refers to the valley of the sons of Hinnom, south of Jerusalem. It was turned into a garbage dumb. When we are irresponsible with our tongues, all we do is spew out garbage.
Prayer focus
- How would you describe your speech?
- Could you be accused of having a garbage mouth?
- Let us pray that our tongues will not lead us to destruction