and whoever utters slander is a fool.
When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but the prudent are restrained in speech.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
the mind of the wicked is of little worth.
The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.” NRSV
“If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is placed among our members as a world of iniquity; it stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of nature, and is itself set on fire by hell. For every species of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by the human species, but no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so” (James 3:3-10 NRSV).
My words get me into more trouble than anything else. I just can’t seem to keep my mouth shut. And it’s not only the usual hoof-and-mouth disease (putting my foot into my mouth when I shouldn’t), but, if I’m honest, I’ll admit that I like to gossip. It hurts even to write that, to admit it. Because gossip is horrible, a horrible sin, a horrible thing to do. As Solomon says, it conceals hatred and makes the person who says it (me!) a fool.
And I am that . . . a fool.
I’ve been thinking about all this since I read these verses today. (Sometimes things need to percolate. For me, sometimes a lot before it really gets into my thick head.) Why do I gossip? What benefit do I think that I will get? For me, I think it boils down to the idea that there is only a limited amount of “good stuff” (you know, God’s blessings, the benefits in life, etc.). How ridiculous is that? To believe that there’s only so much of good that God can give to His children so I need to demean someone else in order to get for myself?
I am a fool!
There are more than enough blessings for everyone who loves Him and trusts Him. I know that intellectually, but functionally? Gossiping is a hard habit to break because I have such a problem with wanting to be better than everyone else. And the fact is, that’s the only level playing field in creation: us all being sinners. Before the Throne there are no successes and failures, only sinners saved by grace or sinners condemned. And being saved only comes because of God’s mercy, grace, and sacrifice . . . not from anything I did (or can do).
Geesh! The more I think on this, the more foolish I seem. To think that trying to make myself better than someone else has any value or worth at all. “Whoever utters slander is a fool.” Yup! That’s me.
“When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.”
I think we often forget that self-control is one of the fruit of the Spirit. We like focusing on peace and joy, but patience and self-control? Those aren’t nearly so much fun nor nearly so fulfilling to the flesh. And yet peace (with God, which is what it means) is impossible without self-control (the decision to put sin aside). And joy is impossible unless we learn patience with those around us. The fruit of the Spirit are inexplicably intertwined; one cannot exist without the other. I need to learn to be restrained in my speech (self-controlled) if I’m going to have joy in my life.
© 2008 Robin L. O’Hare. All Rights Reserved. International copyright reserved. This study may be copied for nonprofit and/or church purposes only without permission when copied in its entirety (including this notice).
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