Week 4, Day 2: Sticks and Stones

Day 2
Matthew 5:21-22, James 3:6, 9-10
How serious does God take our anger? Why does James say our words matter?
Does anger have a hook in you today?

 Remember that old saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me"?  I remember saying that when I was in grade school.  It might have been in response to someone teasing me about my glasses (I wore bifocals, if you can believe it) or defending my best friend on the playground, or something like that.  It seemed like just a silly little saying at the time - an easy come back in any little kid's arsenal of responses: "I know you are, but what am I?", "Liar, liar, pants on fire", or as I got older with a little more attitude, "This is an A & B conversation, so C your way out of it!"

But as I reflect on it now as an adult, saying "words will never hurt me" is simply not true.  Words can be very hurtful.  They are so powerful, and can stick with someone for a long time, perhaps forever.  Jesus obviously knew about the power of words because the Bible is filled with verses cautioning us to think about the words that leave our mouths. Here's just a few:

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. Ephesians 4:29

 I don't know about you, but it seems like when I'm angry or upset, words seem to come a little quicker and I get a case of "diarrhea of the mouth."  They seem to just tumble out of my mouth and there are certainly times that I wish I could take back what I've said to someone.  Think about how much better our world would be if we all ONLY spoke what was helpful for building up others, like what Paul writes to the Ephesians.  I think we'd all be much happier :-)