"A Perfect Man"

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. . . Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. - James 3: 2,5-6

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Avoiding The Web of Angry Words - by Suzanne Stone

"This is so annoying. I don't have time for this," I yelled, slamming the telephone receiver onto the telephone. The mail-order company claimed they had never received my order, yet my bank statement showed that the check had been cashed. Someone had messed up, and I took out my anger on the innocent customer service representative.

A couple of hours later, while I was swimming and trying to "cool off," God reminded me of the important lesson that He had taught me just a month earlier. The lesson had come to me as I was sitting on the patio enjoying a cool breeze.

A moth fluttered by, skimming over a spider web that was entwined on the patio wall. I watched with surprise as the moth flew back to the web. Even with just landing lightly on the surface of the web, the moth was caught. The moth tried to fly away, but it was too late. It dangled upside-down from the web and died.

I saw myself in that moth. For several months God had been showing me verses in the Bible about the importance of guarding my tongue and keeping myself from being snared into sin by my own words. He showed me that "a fool's mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul." (Proverbs 18:7 NIV)

Despite repeated lessons, I have sometimes ignored God's warning signs and I have put a foot into the web to see what would happen. But once I set foot into the web, I am trapped. My tongue has led me into the sin.

Now, as I watch the moth, God impressed upon me the importance of staying away from the web of sin of lashing out with my tongue. Instead of becoming trapped as the moth had, I need to take refuge in God: "A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. (Proverbs 22:3 NIV)

God wants me to sow peace and goodness and to avoid quarrels: "Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it." (1 Peter 3:10-11 NIV)

As the weeks passed, God gave me many opportunities to apply what He was teaching me. When standing in a long line, or when I wasn't able to schedule appointments to my convenience, I would have momentary thoughts of lashing out. But then I would remember God's teaching, and I would whisper a silent prayer asking Him to keep me out of that "web."

When I was especially tempted to speak harsh words, I would pray, "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalms 141:3 NIV) Each time God responded faithfully and kept me from being ensnared. By applying God's teaching whenever I am tempted to lash out, I am learning to stay out of the web of sin of speaking angry words.

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Those who control their tongue will have a long life; a quick retort can ruin everything. - Proverbs 13:3 NLT



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