Morgan glared at him and then replied in a stoic tone, “I never gamble.”  The word ‘gamble’ had killed the deal.  Morgan thought that investing was respectable but that gambling was a sin.

Consider this, if one word that is innocently misspoken, can cost millions, think of how much damage malicious words can cause.  Yes, one word can ruin a person’s reputation and destroy even the closest relationship.

James did not play games with words when warning about the power of the tongue.  He said it’s easier to control a horse, guide a mighty ship, and tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures than to control the tongue (cp. James 3:3-8).  He called it a “fire” ignited by hell itself (v.6), and “an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (v.8).

We all would be wise to pray daily, Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.  (Psalm 141:3)

Although the severity of this fire caused great loss, this is analogous of the damage that can be done by our reckless and careless words.  James says it this way, Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.  Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.  (3:5-6)

Not only James, but also the Bible in general urges us not to underestimate the destructive potential of what we say.  Just as forest fire begins with a single match, so it is that only one careless remark can kindle an inferno of emotional harm.  Maybe that is why the best way to avert the flames of anger is to keep from striking that first match.  We must let the wisdom of God check our thoughts before they leave our tongues.  But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.  (v 17)

Make it a practice to draw on God’s wisdom through His Word, in order to smother the sparks of dissension and, instead, speak words of peace.

“The boneless tongue, so small and weak, can crush and kill,” declared the Greek.

The Persian proverb wisely saith, “A lengthy tongue, an early death.”  Sometimes it takes this form instead: “Don’t let your tongue cut off your head.”

While Arab sages give this input: “The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.”

From Hebrew wit, the maxim is sprung: “Though feet should slip, don’t let the tongue.”

I believe these anecdotes represent the fact that truth is truth no matter who is speaking.

So we can easily conclude that wise is the person who knows what to say and when to say it.  Biblically, this wisdom comes from the crown jewel of Proverbs 21:23, Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles.

Is it any wonder that James likened the tongue to a little fire that sets a great forest ablaze, or to the very small rudder that turns a mighty ship in a storm?  (James 3:4-6).

The preacher kindly responded to the lady that she needed to talk to the Lord about it.

She agreed to pray, “Lord, You know I have this habit of exaggeration . . .” At this point the preacher interrupted, “Call it lying and you may get over it!”  The woman was deeply convicted and confessed her wrong.

We often excuse our pet sins by giving them names that are more acceptable.  Our bad temper we call “nerves”; our untruthfulness, “exaggeration”; our dishonesty we call “good business.”  In seeking to overcome these sins, we need to bring them out in the open, call them honestly by name, and sincerely repent.  Proverbs 28:13 says, He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

A man entered a dentist’s office and sat down to have his teeth fixed.  “I can feel a huge cavity with my tongue,” he said.  The dentist examined the man’s teeth and said, “It’ll only be a small filling.”  “But why does it feel so large?” asked the patient.  “Just the natural tendency of the tongue to exaggerate,” replied the dentist with a twinkle in his eye.  We may smile, but aren’t we all prone to blow things out of proportion?  Indeed, “the tongue is a little member and boasts great things” (James 3:5).

No doubt, these signs served another purpose.  After each church service, some people were in a hurry to get home— even cutting others off to get out of the lot.  Patience wore thin and tempers flared.  Those signs were a great reminder to all of what they had just learned inside the church. 

The great church reformer, Martin Luther told of reading the Scriptures and praying until his heart was filled with love for his fellowman.  But how quickly that love disappeared when a person with offensive body odor sat down beside him!

James said it this way, For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.  (James 2:26).  Let’s remember that the testing of our faith may not come through severe oppression or heavy burdens.  Rather it’s more likely to occur in a checkout line, on the expressway, or in a parking lot.  That’s where we’ll know whether we’ve really become serious about our faith in Christ.

As believers, we take comfort in knowing that we are called a friend of God, and He is a true friend who will never falter.  Michael Gungor’s joyous song “Friend of God” captures the wonder of this relationship when it asks, “Who am I that You are mindful of me?”

In our verse (James 2:23) James records regarding Abraham, And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.  This friendship was related to his faith.  Jesus explained how we could receive that designation as well.  He said to His disciples, Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.  (John 15:14).  There is no better friend, for we know that He will never leave us nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).

Looking for the best friend ever?  You can’t do better than the Lord Himself.