A raging fire

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. – James 3.5-6

I am sure we have all seen footage of those vast forest fires that destroy thousands of acres (or hectares) of trees, destroy homes, and threaten towns and villages. We can all see the vast effort required to get these fires back under control. Property is destroyed and lives are lost as a result of these disasters. 

Sometimes these are natural disasters. Sometimes a lightning strike ca set a tree on fire and the massive fire is a result. 

But far too often these fires are the result of man either accidentally or purposefully setting a fire. And it doesn’t take a flamethrower or firebomb to do it. 

It only takes a match or a spark at the wrong place and time to see a fire raging – but how great the consequence. 

And so it is with an uncontrolled tongue. Just a wrong word or two can set a roaring fire that is nearly unstoppable. That fire has the power to defile the whole body – and more. It can set a fire that roars all around us.

There is one more thing  that we can’t miss – the source of the fire. The original source of the fire is hell itself. 

There is little than can do as much damage as a tongue out of control. Satan knows that and is more than willing to help light the match or set the spark. Our little tongue, only a tiny part of our body has the power to destroy everything. 

We must be sure to watch our words – we don’t want to start a fire that is going to cause so much destruction.