The tongue, the spoken word, holds the power of life and death. An encouraging word can lift someone who is down, helping him make it through the day, while a destructive word can cause him to give up and quit. Anyone can speak words that rob another of the will to continue in difficult times, but special is the individual who takes the time to encourage another. As we grow in brotherly love, we must remember the tongue and its awesome power. For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things, but if anyone does not offend in speech, never saying the wrong things, he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and curb his entire nature. Even so, the tongue is a little member that can boast of great things, like a tiny spark setting a great forest ablaze. The tongue is a fire, a world of wickedness among our members, contaminating the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth. It is a restless, undisciplined, and irreconcilable evil, full of deadly poison. With it, we bless the Lord and Father, and with it, we curse men made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing, which ought not to be so.

The tongue is a small member that wields power out of proportion to its size, and controlling it is the great challenge of godly self-control. James 3 teaches that whoever does not stumble in word is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body, because the mind speaks and the body follows. Like a bit in a horse's mouth or a rudder on a ship, the tongue steers the whole life, and the challenge is learning to use that bit and rudder. Like a spark that sets a forest ablaze, careless words spread destruction and can even bring death. No man can tame the tongue, which is an unruly evil full of deadly poison. Blessing and cursing should not come from the same mouth, just as a spring cannot yield both fresh and salt water. Even occasional salt words of anger, gossip, merciless criticism, or caustic sarcasm betray trust and leave bitterness. Most people live in a comfortable middle, where habits of speech become ingrained and go unseen, and they assume the warnings apply only to extreme sinners. God exposes the fault by letting us receive from others the very words we give, as Nathan led David to judge himself. Job's friends failed to see themselves in Job. A sharp tongue is a weapon with no place among the fruit of the Spirit, which includes self-control.

From the beginning, humanity has found many ways to sin, and controlling the tongue remains an untamed challenge in each of us. God has created us with an instrument that can sing His praises yet curse His name. Our tongues compliment and criticize, comfort and offend, instruct and deceive. Since giving our lives to God, we strive to tune this instrument to harmonize with His melody, an arduous and intensive task. The tongue, though small, holds power far beyond its size, like a bit controlling a horse or a rudder turning a huge ship. It can start wars, condemn innocents, ruin lives and careers, separate friends and family, and lead others to throw away their salvation. It is vital that we control the use of our tongue. Among the dangers concerning the tongue are the excuses we use to justify habitual behaviors. What we think about reveals itself in what we say. A mind fed by godly wisdom can control this wild member. As we grow in that wisdom, our words will become fresh and reliable, losing their sharp edge. Our speech will not be duplicitous, like grapes on a fig tree or bitter waters from a freshwater spring. Emerging from the ruts of human habit in communication, we will express what is true, noble, pure, lovely, and good. Our words will convey virtue and offer praise to God, uplifting those who hear us. Righteousness will come to fruition in an atmosphere of peace through our efforts.

This nation has absorbed behaviors reminiscent of pagan Gentiles, surpassing them in decadence due to its affluence. Such behaviors include overindulgence, marked by revelry and drunkenness, which lead to disorder and sensuality. Additionally, lewdness and lust manifest as immodest actions and illicit indulgences, prevalent among those who do not know God. Strife and envy further characterize this lack of self-control, fostering contention and intense passions that degrade attitudes and relationships. These tendencies mirror the pagan practices of old, where unrestrained behavior was common, and stand in stark contrast to the call for purity and holiness among God's people. Moreover, spiritual immorality, akin to adultery, emerges when individuals are enticed by teachings contrary to God's will, such as those from Far Eastern and Native American religions. These pagan influences, often promoted in media like children's movies and cartoons with themes of the circle of life, yin yang, reincarnation, spirit guides, and dream catchers, pose a risk of spiritual unfaithfulness. Witchcraft, growing rapidly among young women in schools, further exemplifies this trend. It is imperative to guard against such influences to maintain spiritual purity and honor the sanctification that God desires for His followers.