" OUR CONVERSATION(S) "

When we talk too much and listen too little, we communicate to others that we think our ideas are more important than theirs. James wisely advises us to reverse this process. Put a mental stopwatch on your conversations and keep track of how much you talk and how you listen. When people talk with you, do they feel that their viewpoints and ideas have value? What you say and what you don't say are both important. Now I believe that proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time, but it is also controlling your desire to say what you shouldn't. Examples of an unbridled tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying. Before you speak, ask, "Is what I want to say true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?" I love the book of James as this letter could be considered a how-to book on Christian living. Now James compares the damaging effect that can be produced by the tongue. It can be rivaled to a raging fire - the tongue's wickedness has its source in hell itself. The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage. Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against one another. Idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken. Now once again I believe that we should be mindful of what we say, thinking we can apologize later because even if we do the scares remain. A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak remember that words are like fire - you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do. Until Next Time... Jim,