Dousing The Flame

Dousing the Flame

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. James 3:6

On October 8, 1871, two great fires occurred in the Midwest. The Great Chicago Fire killed 250 people and left one-quarter of Chicago homeless. The other one, the Great Peshtigo Fire in the forests of northern Michigan and Wisconsin affected 1.5 million acres and killed approximately fifteen hundred people.

Fire can be devastating and incredibly fast-moving. In the movie Backdraft, I was startled at how quickly a fire can go from seemingly under control to raging out of control and consuming a building. I remember thinking that if I ever faced such a force, I would never think of it in the same way. Fire unleashes terrible power and can result in total devastation.

So when the writer James compares the tongue to a fire, it makes perfect sense. I’ve seen it happen way too often. What seemed to start out as a friendly conversation becomes a major disagreement with hurtful, damaging words and lingering consequences. How often have we seen a simple disagreement smolder ever so slightly and then combust and ignite the situation into an incredible inferno of anger? Our words reflect what is in our hearts.

According to Proverbs 23:7, “As [a man] thinketh in his heart, so is he” (KJV). And Jesus says something similar: “Whatever is in your heart determines what you say” (Matthew 12:34).

Be slow to speak, especially when you’re angry or your emotions are racing; it only takes a few inflammatory words to destroy a relationship forever.

Uncommon Key > Put out the fire of angry words before saying them. If someone is angry and screams at you, maintain your cool. Do your best to douse the situation with your silence.