Proverbs 26 (David)
“Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” Proverbs 26:20
Most young boys love fires. The best thing I remember about scouting was the camp fires – roasting hot dogs and marshmallows on sticks… it doesn’t get much better than that. OK, most boys of any age love fires. The challenge of starting a fire with kindling and the greater test of building a fire that burns even the greenest wood. I confess I flunk both tests but I still love the hot dogs and sm’ores!
Actually, anyone can start a fire (with Duralogs) and given enough dry logs, the fire burns on. After all, the real key to an all-day fire is the art of stoking. If you stir up (stoke) burning logs from time to time, the fire stays hot and you simply add a log as needed. You can even stoke glowing embers long after the fire has died down, and like magic, a flame explodes and the fire is back, begging for more logs! If those embers ever cool down, though, you have to start all over again.
Once again, Solomon shows us wisdom is simple common sense. Want a fire? You need wood. Want a fire to go out? Take away the wood. Hmmm. Want an argument with someone? Just fuel it with gossip and cruel words. Want an argument to die a quick death? Stop using your words as weapons and begin using them as healing medicine.
Elsewhere in Proverbs 18:21, Solomon adds that “the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” With your words, you can kill or heal. It is a choice. An act of love or hate.
James adds his own wisdom on the subject:
“Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell… Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be” James 3:5-6, 10
Wow! James does not mix words. We can either speak for God or we can unleash the fire of hell on someone. Ouch. That is sobering to be sure.
I am reminded here my choice of words matter. Anyone can speak. WHAT we say matters most. Blessings or curses. We can start a fire or quench one. We can end a friendship or we can enrich one.
“Lord, help me to bless You and others with my words. Rather than blurt the first words that I think or feel, help me to wait for the right words, healing words, gracious words, Your words. Yes, let my words be Your words. Amen.”
