A SHARP TONGUE WILL CUT YOU DOWN
"Remember this, my dear brothers! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry." - JAMES 1:19
The advancement in technology has made the "Information Age" become lightening fast. With the click of a button you can be given the answer, or multiple answers to any question you ask on web sites like GOOGLE. Even some new cars are equipped with navigation devices that not only show you where you want to go, but tell you when to turn left or right. How many of you have a corded phone with a rotary dial? Cell phones are starting to replace even the home cordless phone. You can take it anywhere, plus take pictures and send or e-mail them and text messages almost anywhere.
So, with all this new fangled electronic gadgetry we can deliver and receive responses immediately, with very little effort. What hasn’t changed is our tongue.
Our tongue is still connected to the same type of body which has been in use for millenniums. Yes, there have been some refinements over the years, and our knowledge has increased remarkably through time. Yet, we still have trouble with the control of our tongues. What makes it even harder to manage is the speed of delivery we now depend on, due to our advancement in the other areas of information. We want results NOW!
The trouble with letting our tongues blurt out responses more quickly is, that the processors in our mind have a variable reactor, which if not given the proper time to assess the information given, may spit out the first thing that comes to mind. This lightening quick response is sometimes called, the ‘gut’ reaction.
This ‘gut’ reaction is based solely on our unscreened thoughts to a sudden experience through sight, sound, touch or smell. For example: The car in front of you stops suddenly causing you to jam on your brakes. You start yelling, "What in the @#!$% Learn to drive!!" Then after a few moments you see that a ball had rolled into the street and a child was chasing after it..... another example: You’re walking in the mall and someone from behind you puts their hand on your shoulder. You freak out, only to discover, that this person was trying to get your attention before you stepped in a more freakish pile of goo on the floor. Or this example, that seems to be gaining more and more momentum: You hear or read about an individual who did this or that, and what that person did goes against your principles. Your gut reaction is to condemn that person. What if the accusations were false or said in a way to mislead you, so that the presenter of that information would look good in your eyes and gain your support? What about the person you cut down? Cutting remarks leave scars and can do significant damage.
If you do not take the time to process the information correctly and fully before responding, you may find that the aftermath from a sharp tongue will cut you down.
"Does anyone think he is religious? If he does not control his tongue, his religion is worthless and he deceives himself." - JAMES 1:26
"Remember this, my dear brothers! Everyone must be quick to listen, but slow to speak and slow to become angry." - JAMES 1:19
The advancement in technology has made the "Information Age" become lightening fast. With the click of a button you can be given the answer, or multiple answers to any question you ask on web sites like GOOGLE. Even some new cars are equipped with navigation devices that not only show you where you want to go, but tell you when to turn left or right. How many of you have a corded phone with a rotary dial? Cell phones are starting to replace even the home cordless phone. You can take it anywhere, plus take pictures and send or e-mail them and text messages almost anywhere.
So, with all this new fangled electronic gadgetry we can deliver and receive responses immediately, with very little effort. What hasn’t changed is our tongue.
Our tongue is still connected to the same type of body which has been in use for millenniums. Yes, there have been some refinements over the years, and our knowledge has increased remarkably through time. Yet, we still have trouble with the control of our tongues. What makes it even harder to manage is the speed of delivery we now depend on, due to our advancement in the other areas of information. We want results NOW!
The trouble with letting our tongues blurt out responses more quickly is, that the processors in our mind have a variable reactor, which if not given the proper time to assess the information given, may spit out the first thing that comes to mind. This lightening quick response is sometimes called, the ‘gut’ reaction.
This ‘gut’ reaction is based solely on our unscreened thoughts to a sudden experience through sight, sound, touch or smell. For example: The car in front of you stops suddenly causing you to jam on your brakes. You start yelling, "What in the @#!$% Learn to drive!!" Then after a few moments you see that a ball had rolled into the street and a child was chasing after it..... another example: You’re walking in the mall and someone from behind you puts their hand on your shoulder. You freak out, only to discover, that this person was trying to get your attention before you stepped in a more freakish pile of goo on the floor. Or this example, that seems to be gaining more and more momentum: You hear or read about an individual who did this or that, and what that person did goes against your principles. Your gut reaction is to condemn that person. What if the accusations were false or said in a way to mislead you, so that the presenter of that information would look good in your eyes and gain your support? What about the person you cut down? Cutting remarks leave scars and can do significant damage.
If you do not take the time to process the information correctly and fully before responding, you may find that the aftermath from a sharp tongue will cut you down.
"Does anyone think he is religious? If he does not control his tongue, his religion is worthless and he deceives himself." - JAMES 1:26
posted by John | Saturday, May 13, 2006
1 Comments:
The tongue is a rudder and a fire.
James said it best.
As a public school teacher and father, I see every day how these two metaphors are made manifest.
Thanks for The WORD.
bg
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