Of Words and Wildfires
James 3:1-12
What is common with rapper Kanye West, tennis star Serena Williams, Congressman Joe Wilson and President Barack Obama? CARELESS WORDS CAUGHT ON CAMERA. They were all in the news last week because of the words they said that caught the the world’s attention. Many years ago, a high leader of a country was caught saying the F word during a break in a TV interview.
I myself had a really embarrassing experience. I didn’t notice that my wireless lapel mic was still on after preaching in a worship service. The sound tech was somewhere outside and did not turn off the wireless receiver. I also forgot to turn off my mic. In other words, I was on “broadcast mode” while greeting, talking to people. The mic caught everything I said for more than 15 minutes. It was practically “me” talking in my “usual self” and everyone in the room heard every word I said. I could only wish I didn’t say careless words. It was a learning experience about words. We never know if somebody is listening. We know for sure, however, that God is listening to us.
Today’s passage comes from the book of James. The book’s theme is “practical Christian living.” James’ focus is not how a person can become a Christian but how anyone could demonstrate that he really is a Christian. The main idea in the book is that our faith must be proven by our action, attitude and speech. “Faith without works is dead.” In earlier verses he said, 18… someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. 19You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:18-20)
James speaks more about the tongue than any other book in the Bible. If James is truly a book for practical Christian living, then there must be something essential about the tongue, our words and living an effective Christian life. Our words have something to do with our faith.
Our words reveal our true character.
What we say speak more about ourselves.
[Illustration]
Aesop, the ancient storyteller, told this fable: Once upon a time, a donkey found a lion’s skin. He tried it on, strutted around, and frightened many animals. Soon a fox came along, and the donkey tried to scare him, too. But the fox, hearing the donkey’s voice, said, “If you want to terrify me, you’ll have to disguise your bray.” Aesop’s moral: Clothes may disguise a fool, but his words will give him away.
Our words reflect our walk with Christ.
As our words reveal our character, they also tell who our master really is.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:13-18)
Our words can either kill or heal. It can build up or break another person.
18 Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:18)
Like spark, our words may set fire to the whole community.
“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6)
The recent station fire gutted around 160,000 acres of vegetation and natural habitat for wildlife and other small creatures, killed 2 firefighters and destroyed 94 homes and 132 other structures. The cause of the fire is believed to be arson. Police investigations led to a conclusion that someone intentionally started the fire. I wonder what the arsonist thinks about what he did. I guess he now feels deep regret unless he has no conscience at all.
The Morris fire which destroyed a large area north of Azusa was believed to have been set by a thirteen year old boy from El Monte. There’s a possibility that it was not intentional. But look, wildfires don’t care whether it was set intentionally or unintentionally, it will go on destroying everything on its path. It’s the same thing with our words.
Our careless words can spread out like wildfire and may be beyond control. It’s like trying to put the toothpaste back into its tube.
“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21)
Did you know Karen Carpenter? She was the singer of “Why do birds suddenly appear every time you are near.” When she and her brother first started singing, someone wrote about her as “Richard’s chubby little sister.” Karen was psychologically devastated by the comment. From that time on, every time she looked in the mirror, she said to herself, “I’m Richard’s chubby little sister.” And she started taking drugs to lose weight. And she became bulimic and anorexic and eventually died.
Remember the teenager in Florida who committed suicide because she was bullied on the internet? Someone might say, ‘why did she commit suicide? It was only internet.’ It is not a Again, words have power to kill or heal.
“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”(James 1:19)
Our tongue is like a loose cannon when it is not tamed. When we are angry (I speak from experience), we unleash words that are not supposed to be spoken. I’m not talking about spoken words only but also written words that we send to others which are hurtful, bitter and condescending. At the end of the day we realize that it was wrong but the ‘die is cast’. The damage has been done. Kanye West wrote in his blog, I’m soooo sorry.”
The Great Reformer Martin Luther said, “I have learned this art: When I have nothing to say, I stop talking.”
You ask, how can I use my words to heal.
- T H I N K before you speak. Someone suggested this formula
T- is it Truthful?
H – is it Helpful? Or is it going to harm?
I – is it Inspiring? Is what you are going to say going to build up or tear down? Are your words encouraging?
N – is it Necessary? Do I really need to say or write it right now?
K – is it Kind? Do I intend to show my kind intention?
THINK before you speak.
B. Be intentional when you say something. Use
1. Kind words: Transforms worry to joy.
“Worry can rob you of happiness, but kind words will cheer you up.” Proverbs 12:25 TEV
2. Gentle words: Breaks through anger.
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 51:1 NIV
3. Pleasant words: Encourages learning.
“Pleasant words promote instruction.” Proverbs 16:21b NIV
4. Honest words: Makes us feel loved.
“An honest answer is a kiss on the lips.” Proverbs 24:26
5. Wise words: Heals broken hearts.
“Thoughtless words can would as deeply as any sword, but wisely spoken words can heal.” Proverbs 12:18 TEV
(From 40 Days of Purpose by Rick Warren)
Conclusion:
Imagine your family or even our church when we are careful with the words we say to each other. Did you know that most cases of quarrels between husbands and wives arose from careless words that should have not been said at all? The same is true in many churches that are experiencing division.
Where do we go from here?
1. Ask God to change your heart.
James said that the tongue cannot be tamed. It can’t be when the heart is not tamed. Your heart and mine needs surgery. It needs a complete makeover.
“For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. (Matt 12:34,35)
2. Be on guard.
“Guard your heart more than anything else, because the source of your life flows from it.” (Prov 4:23)
3. Train your tongue
Our tongue is weak because it lacks exercise. “Training makes perfect”, they say. We need to learn again how to speak and what to speak about.
“Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.” Eph. 4:29 (The Message)
“Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk.” Eph 4:32 (The Message)
Though we find it difficult to change our habit, it is not impossible. With God, nothing is impossible. Let us consciously “kick” the habit. For every improper word we say, a foul word, gossip, hurtful word, backbite, etc, someone “dies”. He could be your spouse, your parent, you child, your bestfriend. But for every kind word we say someone is healed.
[Are you willing to be a vessel for healing? Let me ask each one of us to take 2 sheets of paper, one red and one white. On the red paper, please write the names of persons whom you remember to have been hurt by your words (spoken or written). You may not remember all of them but you need to ask God to enable you to remember. As you write each of the name, ask God to forgive you. Say in your heart, _______ (name of the person), please forgive me. Pray to God to give you courage to to personally ask for forgiveness sooner or later. If the person is here, wouldn't it be best to go to that person and ask for forgiveness right now?
On the white sheet of paper, write the names of the person who have hurt you. As you write each of the name, say in your heart, ________, I forgive in the Name of the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit. Pray to God to give you willingness to go to that person to personally tell him that you have forgiven him/her. Wouldn't it be great if you personally tell the brother or sister right now that you have forgiven him/her?]
Right now, let us pray to God. Let’s ask him to take control of our heart and every word that will come out of our mouth from now on. Let’s tell him that we want to be instruments of healing, not killing.
Let us pray.
RevRVE
