Philip Dampier's Blog

Chapter 3, Verse 5 “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!”

Have to stay alert when reading James. Horses, ships and now fire. The tongue is a small part of the body but it plays a tremendous role in the life of its owner. Small though the tongue may be, it can cause great outcomes and not necessarily good ones. A small ember can burn thousands of acres of forest when used in the wrong context. Smokey Bear spent years warning people about the danger of starting forest fires with a tossed cigarette or smoldering campfire. James is trying to do the same thing for us with regard to our words.

Task for Today: Watch your tongue. Remember, that according to James, one careless word can cause great damage. An entire forest of friends or of good deeds can be dismantled with one wrong word. Teach yourself to douse the fire.