BBD 03.11.14 Tearing Apart (Classic)
Posted by: theburningbushdevotional <theburningbushdevotional@...>
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Classic from 2005
03.11.14
Tearing Apart
Do you see a man hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than
for him. - Proverbs 29:20.
He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a
calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts
his lips, he is considered perceptive. - Proverbs 27:27-28.
In June of 2004, the Albany, New York firefighters made a
mistake during a training exercise. The firefighters were practicing the use of
the Jaws of Life and tore apart a minivan at the junk yard where the exercise
was supposed to take place. However, it was just a three-year-old vehicle, a 2002
Dodge Caravan that just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The firefighters should have used another older vehicle for the practice
exercise. As a result, the city’s share of the bill for the destroyed minivan
was $12,000.
Think of the shock of the owner of the minivan to
discover that their vehicle had been torn apart and destroyed. Even though it
was a mistake, and the firefighters were of course sorry, the damage had still
been done. A year later it appears the owner may receive compensation for the
mistake, but there was still damage that cannot be repaired.
Have you ever said something to someone that you wish
that you had not said? I have. Have you ever attacked someone verbally and
found out later that you were wrong? I have. My mouth at times seems to have a
mind of its own and has spewed out words, which tore, I’m sure; at the heart of
the person I was attacking. The apostle James writes about the tongue, “Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn
their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven
by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot
desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things (James
3:3-5).”
The tongue can be a dangerous thing and can cause great
damage if it is not under control. James goes on to say, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these
things ought not to be so (James 3:10).” The
tongue can be controlled.
The next time you are tempted to lash out verbally at
someone remember the mistake of the firefighters. Remember that when you tear
into someone with your tongue that you cause damage that is very difficult if
not impossible to repair. However, if you do find out you have torn into
someone by mistake - admit it. Tell them you are sorry and that you were wrong.
It will not completely repair the damage, but it will help, and it is the
responsible Christian thing to do.
Copyright © 2005 - 2014. Ed
Wrather. The Burning Bush website has been online since January 31, 1998. On
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