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Ahhh…people. They can bring out the best in you…or the worst. If we’re honest, other people provide us with plenty of opportunities to say something mean or hurtful. Thankfully, some of us bite our tongue in those instances.
But here’s what it sounds like when we don’t.
I can see your point, but I still think you’re full of it!
I don’t know what your problem is, but I bet it’s hard to pronounce.
I see you’ve chosen to thoroughly embarrass yourself in public again.
I’ll try being nicer if you try being smarter.
Ahhh…I see the screw-up fairy has visited us again.
I like you. You remind me of me…when I was young and stupid.
You are validating my inherent mistrust of strangers.
I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had of your competence.
The fact that no one understands you doesn’t mean you’re an artist.
James had a lot to say about what we say. In 3:7-12 he shares some wisdom with us about what an untamed tongue looks like and does.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
According to James, who based his teachings off of Jesus’ teachings, we’re never going to have permission to speak to others in hurtful ways.
Let’s make sure that when we speak to others, our speech reflects the truth that the other person was created in the image of God.
Topics Illustrated Include:
Anger
Communication
Conversation
Hurtful Words
Relationship
Sarcasm
Talking
Tongue
Words
(Resource cataloged by David R Smith)
