Today's Passage: James 3

If you are a reality show fan then you are probably acquainted with the damage that can come from words. It seems that these shows have at least one person determined to say whatever comes to mind without a second thought. And usually they sit in front of the camera exclaiming, "I'm not here to make friends." The result is usually an emotional train wreck that we cannot seem to tear our eyes away from. Although it may be considered entertaining, living an emotional train wreck because of giving or receiving hurtful comments is heartbreaking. James says in verse 5 that "the tongue is a small part of the body, but makes great boasts."

 He goes on to say that we use the tongue to do good and bad things. We praise God with the same tongue we use to belittle another person. We pray with the dame tongue that we use to tell a lie. He says in verse 10 that these things should not be happening. And let's be honest; it is hard to control what comes out of our mouth. How many times have we "vented" even if no one else was around? Be sure to choose your words carefully and speak the truth in love.

The rest of James 3 deals with two different kinds of wisdom. The first kind is the wisdom that makes sense to the world. It teaches selfish ambition and goes by the saying: "The end justifies the means." The second kind of wisdom goes beyond human logic and understanding. It is described as, "pure, peace-loving, submissive, full of mercy..." For more on the difference of earthly and Godly wisdom read Proverbs 3:5-6.