It Only Takes A Spark

James 3

When it comes to being a teacher, an instructor, a mentor, a life-coach, a trainer, a preacher, a parent - there comes a moment when you have to open your mouth and say something. Whatever comes out has the capacity to build up or cause wreckage. Beware opening your mouth! "It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that."

James was the Bishop of Jerusalem, overseeing the thousands of Christians that lived in the city and the surrounding region. He worked with hundreds of pastors and teachers who led small house churches in the area. One of his primary works as a bishop was to help develop pastors and teachers so that they could more fruitfully care for and guide their congregations. Being a good Jew, James boils it all down to wisdom. 

For those that aspired to be a teacher or preacher, James warned them against it. Wisdom was so essential to being a good teacher and pastor - and not enough men and women showed it with their life to qualify. The evidence was in the brackish words that flowed out of their mouths, the mean-spirited ambition that dripped off their words.

But it's not just teachers and pastors, nor candidates for that kind of ministry, that need to beware what comes out of their mouth. Anyone who is a follower of Jesus must reign in their tongue. "By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the world world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell." 

Our words matter - they are a form of action. James goes on to point out, though, that our actions without words matter more. On this point he lifts up again the value of wisdom: "Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts."

It boggles the mind how a mouth can sing praises to God on Sunday morning and then be mumbling curses by the afternoon. How can a Christian encourage a friend at church but then bad-mouth a relative later in the day? We all do it, though. "Cursings and blessings out of the same mouth? My friends, this can't go on!"

If God is convicting you over the mean or self-serving words that have been coming out of your mouth, then listen to your conscience and make the change. Your words are sparks that are setting off forest fires. God is always prompting you towards wisdom - in your home, your church, your work, your school, your neighborhood, with family and friends. Wisdom can set off it's own sparks, though - the kind of fire that warms and attracts, not destroys.

Real wisdom, God's wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. 

You can develop healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and respect.