James 3:10-12: “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
James is pretty blunt. He says you use your mouth to praise and curse and then simply states, “This should not be.”
I remember hanging out with a bunch of marines one day. They used all sorts of curse words. Some I had never heard before. I asked them to clean it up. They said they couldn’t. They were issued those words and had to use them. Then a female Colonel walked in. Guess what, they stopped cursing! It was interesting to see how they could turn it on and off depending on who was around. Christian, what about you?
The cursing that comes from our mouth is usually the result of what’s in our heart. We curse and criticize because of the wickedness that comes from within.
You will have to give an account for every word you have spoken. Let that sink in a minute…
Don’t be inconsistent with your tongue. It has the power to delight God through praise and worship. It has the power to bring delight to those around you by encouraging words and speaking life. The person sitting next to you at church, the person you share a cubicle with at work, the student you sit beside at school, they are made in God’s image! Treat them as such.
Colossians 4:6: “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” The ability to speak words is the ability to influence others and accomplish tremendous tasks, yet we take this ability for granted.
Proverbs 18:21-“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Ephesians 4:29: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Warren Wiersbe talks about 12 words that can transform your life:
*Please, Thank you
*I’m sorry
*I love you
*I’m praying for you
Some questions to consider:
-Why should we not curse? How is worship connected to cursing?
-Do you talk differently based upon who is around? Why?
-How can you season your speech with salt and grace?
-Memorize and pray each morning: Psalm 141:3-“Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Scott Maxon 