We have been learning how the words we speak can generate all kinds of pain and devastation. These hazards have never been more volatile than in this day of social media.

Today, the words we speak are louder than ever before. They can spread faster than ever before. Without ever looking a single person in the eye, you can sit silently behind a keyboard, and your words can spread all over the world in a matter of only a few seconds.

We need to give careful thought to the words we speak, whether they are spoken or typed. Pay attention to that counsel and it could save you a job, a relationship or it could possibly save you a world of embarrassment. Our words matter.

James adds one more warning in James 3:9-10: “With the tongue, we praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.”

Wow! Is that convicting or what? We go to church on Sunday and sing songs of praise to God. We say things like, “God, you are a good Father and we love you. We are so grateful for who you are. You are amazing.” Then we walk right out the doors of the church and complain about “that idiot just cut me off” in traffic. Ouch!

Did you know that to curse somebody, you do not have to say a curse word? Curses can actually be a lot deeper than that. You are speaking a curse on others when you say things like, “You are good for nothing. You will never amount to anything. You will never measure up.”

Sadly, many people struggle for years with the curses that were spoken to them in a moment of anger by a parent, a teacher or some other trusted authority or friend.

We need to be careful with the words that we speak. We should also be extremely cautious about the words we speak about people, like us, who are made in the image of God.

It helps for us to be reminded of the fact that people are all made in the image and likeness of God. They are valuable. Don’t you think we should treat them like it?

What if you could hear a tape recording of everything you said last week? Is there anything that would you want to edit out? Anything you wouldn’t want the world to hear? Be careful what you say.

You may read Steve Greene’s blog at pastorgreene.wordpress.com or you can email him at [email protected].