“Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” James 3:5

(This week’s devotionals, originally published in January 2021, aligned with the sermon series “Disagree Deeply, Love Deeper Still: True Unity.” This specific devotional has been updated to reflect our having moved out of the Covid years.)

“We all stumble in many ways” (3:1). James’ announcement (understatement?) is just as true now as it was centuries ago. While we’ve finally emerged from those Covid years of isolation, loneliness, frustration, and fear, it’s not too hard to recall how easy it was for us as Christians, who should have been modeling a life of humility, to go wrong - to stumble - in our speech and actions. From the perch (careful not to fall off!) of our own wisdom, we didn’t hesitate to explain how our views of the pandemic, mandates, leadership, elections, you-name-it were the correct views, even as perspectives on all of those varied tremendously among believers. We’re in danger of repeating those same errors as another election season looms. 

What did we do, then, during those Covid years? Did we keep on stumbling when our careless words sparked a bewildered glance? How about when our reasoned argument started a verbal disagreement? Did we consider, before continuing to speak, how our words might destroy a mood, a friendship, even a community of friends? Or did we continue to “stumble,” thinking that voicing our wise opinions was so very important? “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark,” James warns (3:5). 

It’s just words, we might say, but God takes our words seriously. He knows that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34). Unless I am a practiced hypocrite, my tongue is the messenger of what’s in my heart. If God isn’t ruling there, my wise-in-my-own-estimation words could well be the dangerous spark that sets a fire smoldering. 

James speaks strongly here: “Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil” (3:15). Our words, unless tamed and spoken in humility, can be like that destructive fire (3:5). And fires, once started, can’t reverse the damage they cause, no matter how much we wish we had taken back or apologized for our words.

James counsels the necessity of taming the tongue, then suddenly shifts to contrasting worldly and godly wisdom. Why? The link should be clear. We will always have moments of contention with other believers. In such times, though, words spoken from a heart softened by God’s wisdom can have the warmth of a welcoming fire. But untamed and self-promoting words can start a fire that, left uncontrolled, will burn down relationships, leaving nothing to salvage. 

“Who is wise...among you?” James asks us. “Let him show it by deeds done [and words spoken] in humility” (3:13). 

Watch your step.

What burns in your heart? Lord, let it be a godly fire working through me to love and speak to (not lecture) others in humility. Guided by Your wisdom, help me when I disagree with others to do so in a loving spirit.