My Morning Musings

Several weeks ago, my youngest daughter and my husband were riding along when they passed a spreader truck. Jaylan asked her daddy “What kind of truck is that?” He answered that it was “a spreader truck that took chicken manure to the pastures and spread it out all over it.” After a moment to ponder that, she replied “No daddy! Really, what kind of truck is that?” He responded again that it was “a spreader truck that took chicken manure to the fields and spread it out to fertilize the grass.” Relieved, Jaylan said “OHHHHH! I thought you meant it took it to the Pastor and spread it out all over him!”

I’ve reflected on this story for quite some time now and often wonder how accurate Jaylan’s first perception of the spreader truck really is at times. How often do we, sometimes without even realizing perhaps, spread “manure” on our Pastor, church leaders, or anyone for that matter? What is it that our children are hearing us say as we “vent” to each other about something the Pastor said, the event the church leaders organized, or something someone did that we didn’t agree with? I know of too many adults who have zero respect for anything to do with the church because of their parent’s attitude towards it while they were growing up. Your children are listening, those around you are listening, even when you think you are not being heard. Be careful what you say and how you say it.

The words we speak are tremendously effective, either negatively or positively. Our tongue is a very powerful tool that we should not treat casually because our tongue has the potential to uplift or to destroy. James 3:1-12 gives us an eye-opening illustration of how just how much power our tongues possesses. The writer likens our tongue to a bit in a horse’s mouth. A large, powerful animal is controlled by the rider using a simple bit in its mouth to determine the direction in which the animal should go. James also compares our tongue to the power that a rudder has in steering a ship even when the strong winds come against it.

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. ⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. ⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  James 3:3-5 NIV

The Great Chicago Fire of 1871 devastated almost 1/3 of the city of Chicago and left around one hundred thousand people homeless. Such destruction started in a small cow barn when a cow kicked over a lamp.  The writer of the Book of James urges us to consider the potential damage the tongue can do to a great fire that is ignited by just a spark.  ⁵Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6 NIV

James goes on to inform us that man can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures, but no man can tame the tongue. So, if it is impossible to tame the tongue, why try? With man alone it is impossible, but when we submit to a Spirit-controlled life our efforts to control the tongue become possible. It is no coincidence that when Jesus fill us with His Spirit the first sign is speaking with other tongues*, as the Spirit gives utterance! God is now in control! *Acts 2

The story of the “manure truck” can be used in many life lessons. While I personally hate the smell of the “fertilizer or manure” it does have some positive effects. The grass on which it is spread is fertilized, and it becomes luscious and healthy for animals to graze. It is God’s natural process. So which side of the story do you want to live on? The side of the stinky smelly manure that contaminates the air with an unpleasant odor or the side that positively affects the ground on which is it placed? It’s your choice!

There is nothing like a hot, crackling fire on a cold, dreary day. It is an amazing feeling to curl up beside a fire with a good book and relax but how tragic would it be caught in the middle of a blazing house fire? How terrible it would be to run from the engulfing flames! In both examples, the element is the same: Fire. Yet one is cozy, the other is a calamity. Fire is useful and necessary if you control it, but it is deadly if you are careless. The choice is yours. You will either strive for a controlled tongue, or you will be responsible for your careless words.

On average, a person opens his or her mouth approximately 700 times a day to speak. That is a lot of chances to be destructive or constructive. Knowing the power our tongues possess, it is so important to ask God to guard our words so they will be acceptable in His sight. The Psalmist David penned two verses that we could all add to our morning prayer time: “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NLT and “Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.” Psalm 141:3 NLT.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Choose life today! Speak encouragement into someone’s life! Strive every day for a controlled tongue!