A small fire...

**Image of Great Chicago Fire courtesy of flickr.com**

"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!"--James 3:5.  James, speaking of the power of words illustrating why those who teach will incur a stricter judgment (James 3:1).  He explains what great damage can come from such a small part of our body, the tongue, considered to be a small fire. 

A small fire.  Consider the image above. A familiar scene to many people.  The Great Chicago Fire. Started with just a small flame.   

A small fire.  One common thread through most fires like this, in a city or a forest fire, is the fact that these giant fires that have consumed acres were started by just a small fire.  They have started by someone simply flicking a cigarette butt, sometimes a camp fire gone wrong or as in the case of the Great Chicago Fire, it started in a barn and burned an entire city. 

A small fire.  So are our words.  What we say can make or break a relationship.  What we say can build up or destroy a church.  What we say can impact someone's eternal destiny.  

A small fire.  It seems its what we say that can do the most good or the most harm.  I hate to admit that my words have on the one hand done good but at other times they have done harm.  Other people's words have done me good but at other times they have done me harm.  I do not believe anyone is exempt from either of these categories.  

A small fire.  Before you say something to someone we must first consider the person and our relationship with them.  Then we must consider how we are going to say something. Sometimes it's not what we say but how we say it. A lesson I am still learning.  

A small fire.  In closing, consider once again the image above.  My encouragement to you is this, next time you are going to say something to someone, ask yourself if what you have to say will start a fire or extinguish it and also consider the steps I gave in the previous paragraph.

DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT! PRAY ABOUT IT! LOVE Y'ALL! GOD BLESS!