James 3
3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But 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. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
One of the many problems that blunt people face, is that when they are asked to share their opinion, they do it with such honesty that many times it comes off as inconsiderate and it ends up offending instead of building up, even though they may be speaking the truth.
I have always been a blunt person, and when I was younger this characteristic would get me in trouble often, all because I did not understand how deeply my words could affect people, even if it was the truth in other words I was inconsiderate. Around the time I was preteen my brother Mario gave me the best advice that anyone could have ever given me, this advice has helped me navigate life, by being more considerate of the feelings of others. The advice was simple but effective, he simply told me “Luis, just think before you speak” this advice has helped me on conversations an average of 90%, because on occasion I been guilty of not applying this advice as I share my honest opinion, and as a result I end up hurting someone’s feelings by what I say when I am not selective of my words, even if it’s the truth.
I believe that my brother words are of great advice for us to follow, for us to contemplate our words, to “Just think before we speak” For us to ponder the words we are about to speak, to see if these words will be of blessing or destruction, for us to have control over our tongue. We must be wise in the way we use our words because as we read, our tongue can start a fire, but if we apply 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. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. As we learn to control our tongue, we can become peacemakers.
Pastor Luis.