31 October 2020

• Wear Your Mask – Close your month*

James 3:2-9 (NLT) Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God.”

When to close your mouth?

In the heat of anger - Proverbs 14:17 (RSV) “A man of quick temper acts foolishly, but a man of discretion is patient.” Proverbs 25:28(TEV) If you cannot control your anger, you are as helpless as a city without walls, open to attack.

Speaking Negative Words - Proverbs 18:21(NIV) The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 (TEV) What you say can preserve life or destroy it; so you must accept the consequences of your words.

If your words will damage someone else’s reputation - Proverbs 16:27(TEV) Evil people look for ways to harm others; even their words burn with evil.

If your words will be a poor reflection of others -Proverbs 21:23 (MSG) Watch your words and hold your tongue; you’ll save yourself a lot of grief.

If it is all talk but no work - Proverbs 14:23 (MSG) Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table.

When you don’t have all the facts - Proverbs 18:13(TEV) Listen before you answer. If you don’t, you are being stupid and insulting.

Fill Your Mouth with Life - Proverbs 10:11 (ESV) The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life*