A fire in a fire pit can be beautiful to watch, but a fire in a forest is frightening to behold. James 3 compares the tongue to a tiny spark that can start a fire and so the question we should ask is what fire are we starting with our words?

When have you seen someone’s words set a situation on fire?

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. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. —James 3:6-12 (NLT)

What is James saying here?

“A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 44 A tree is identified by its fruit. Figs are never gathered from thornbushes, and grapes are not picked from bramble bushes. 45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. —Luke 6:43–45 (NLT)

What is Jesus saying here?

The content of our words reveals the condition of our hearts.

What does this mean about the words that we say?

Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. —Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

Why does a simple change of our words not fix the problem?

Jesus wants our words to speak life, but he doesn’t just say we should change our words… He challenges us to change our heart. Because when our heart is changed, the words follow. And thankfully God is in the business of changing hearts.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. —Psalm 51:10 (NLT)

Take an inventory of your words this week.

What do you words reveal about your heart?