Words That Hurt

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  The tongue is set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men,who have been made in the similtude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
James 3: 6 - 10 NKJV

There is a common saying that we always hurt the ones that we love the most.  If this be true, it is a wonder how some of us have many loving relationships at all.  It is no secret that our words can more often than not, cause irreparable damage to those relationships around us.  Words of anger have not only started fights and wars, but have destroyed sound relationships which once boasted the closest friendships.  As our Lords brother, James has spoken of these words of anger, "These things ought not to be so."  What is it within us which prompts us to immediately place ourselves on a pedestal above our brother to talk down and admonish him?  Better yet, who is it that gave us the responsibility of being both our brothers judge and jury?  Is it not our heavenly Father who judges?  I can think of no situation where our anger and pride can take the place of our Lords righteous judgement, and yet many of us continue to push this thought aside and admonish those around us for one reason or another.

For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.
James 1: 20 NKJV

Make no mistake, it is our pride and our pride alone which makes us want to place ourselves in the position to judge our brother.  And this NEVER produces the righteousness of God.  How arrogant is the man who will stand by after adminishing his brother and enjoy the very feeling of "Pissing someone off?"  These things ought not to be so.  Now, I personaly know the pain and humiliation of the giving and receiving end of hurtful words.  Believe me, it is not a good feeling.  For we may feel as if we have "Gotten one over" on our brother with our quick temper, when all we may have accomplished is to drive a wedge between ourselves and our friend.  Truth be told, we may lose a few freinds as well with this behavior.

"Judge not, that you not be judged.  "For with that judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.  "And why do you look at the speck in your brothers eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  "Hypocrite!  First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck ftom your brothers eye."
Matthew 7: 1 - 5 NKJV

Again, we see the warning of judging our brethren.  This time from Christ Jesus Himself.  For how is it that we can see clearly enough to judge our brother, when we ourselves have our own issues which need dealing with.  From my personal experience, when I have judged a brother of mine in some way, many times God led me to my own shortcomings.  As a corrupt judge is in no position to pass judgement, neither are we if we ourselves have fallen short in some areas of our lives.  For the plain truth is that we all have fallen short at one time or another.  Making us a not so good candadate to judge our brethren.  Some have that ability to speak gently when dealing with a brother who has in some way fallen astray.  Unfortunately, others enjoy the role of judge and jury just to piss people off.

~Scott~