Why do we speak when we know the things that we speak are not true?  Why do we feel empowered to share things we know with others who we know do not know the things we know?  What is the glory in all of these things?  Why do some people completely fabricate things just to have something to say?  What is the point and spiritual ramifications of all of these actions?

Do we not understand that our words have power and consequences and can have destruction?  What is the real power of words?  Why are they important?

It was with the spoke word that God Almighty created the heavens and the earth.

And if we are made in His image, then what does that mean for us?

Should we slow down long enough to stop our words from exiting our mouths?  Or maybe even to stop our neighbor’s words from coming from their mouths and penetrating our ears and then dragging our minds through the filth?

James chapter 3

The Tongue Is a Fire

3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a ^[a]stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in ^[b]what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. ³ Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. ⁴ Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. ⁵ So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our ^[c]life, and is set on fire by ^[d]hell. ⁷ For every ^[e]species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human ^[f]race. ⁸ But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; ¹⁰ from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. ¹¹ Does a fountain send out from the same opening both ^[g]fresh and bitter water? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce ^[h]fresh.

Wisdom from Above

¹³ Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitterjealousy and ^[i]selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, ^[j]natural, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and ^[k]selfish ambition exist, ^[l]there is disorder and every evil thing. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, ^[m]reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits,unwavering, without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the ^[n]seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace ^[o]by those who make peace.