Word for the Day November 5
By: Evang. Cascille Hammack
"but no human being 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
human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers
and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water 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 3:8-12
In James 3, we are instructed to tame our tongues. Words are used to worship and praise God
who is holy and also to hurt and destroy others. It should not be underestimated the damage words can do to
another person. The engage in slander is to lose communion with the Lord.
In Psalm 141:3 David wrote, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord;
keep watch over the door of my lips."
Gossip is a sin that violates and dissipates the community of trust in the body of Christ. It
is destructive and divisive. It is the antithesis of righteousness - Lev. 19:16, Prov. 11:9; Rom. 1:29; the antithesis
of faithfulness - Prov. 11:13; the product of corrupt mind - Rom. 1:28; used by wicked people - Jere. 6:28;
stirs up trouble - Jere. 9:4; breaks relationships - Prov. 11:9,16:28; causes anger - Prov. 25:23; and is
epidemic among those who do not know God - Rom. 1:28-32, II Cor. 12:20 II Tim. 3:3. Gossip is sin. It is diabolic
and contrary to the character of God. Slander is such a grave sin that 1 Cor. 5:11 instructs, "But now I am writing you
that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer,
a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat."
Speaking negative words against another person is as damaging as a physical assault upon
them and causes even more destruction. In Psalm 15:2-4 David describes who may dwell in the Lord's sanctuary and
who may live on His holy hill, "He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous, who speaks the truth from
his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman, who despises
a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord, who keeps his oath even when it hurts." We can cause God to withdraw
His presence from our lives through engaging in slander and deceit. Examine your actions, confess your sins and turn
from them and present yourself to God as one approved (2 Tim. 2:15). To lose communion with God is to lose everything
(1 John 1:6,7; 2:3-6; 3:21-24).