Wednesday, July 2, 2008
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our actions n words
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i just wanted to talk about how our actions may reflect how we behave and how we think. our words, thoughts, deeds. Everything.
Eg1: In one of my tuition class, my friend (whom i thot was a strong christian) was just telling me some joke and then ended off with the middle finger, which was part of the joke. I was kinda shocked then he told me he was joking only la he didnt meant it.
Eg2: In my school, someone i know was telling some adult a whole tall tale about how he was converted, became christian and stuff like that. Then after talking to him, he suddenly turned to me and said (quote)," I f****** fooled him!" At the moment i didnt know whether to be shocked or to laugh.
Eg3: A close group of mine, outside school, has recently been doing a sign that some may translate as "wt-fish". I have been trying to stop it cos it is kinda not right. But in that close group like everyone is doing it so ya.
I just want to end off with this.
"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." James 3:5-6
#1: Shows that a small spark alone is easily disregarded. But a small spark in a suitable environment (the world) can cause much damage.
#2: Shows that when a great forest is on fire, it is uncontrollable and is difficult to extinguish the fire. Similarly, a tongue has spoken words inappropriate, it is uncontrollable, difficult to get rid off and soon it will consume over you (v6).
#3: Shows that speaking in bad words will affect your future. (v6) It will affect how others perceive you, it will affect how you perceive yourself. It will make God unhappy.
#4: Shows that the more you speak of such evil, the less trustworthy your words become. Shows that indirectly we are cursing God. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness." James 3:9
These verses have certainly shown how powerful the tongue is. It is definitely the responibility of everyone, not only christians, but especially christians, to tame their tongue. Or else how can we praise God fully with all our heart when we have a dirty mouth?
Similarly I believe this applies to our actions as well. Everyone is watching you, even when you think nobody's watching, God's watching. Even the walls have ears. Haha.
James 3
Taming the Tongue
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 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.
All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
aaron chua thanked jesus at5:31 PM
