“Small Spark – Big Impact”

“Small Spark – Big Impact”

July 1, 2015 Ponder

Strong winds blew small sparks from one rooftop to the next until 29 homes were destroyed. It happened so quickly that the occupants had only minutes to escape. Firefighters were frustrated in their efforts to put a stop to the out-of-control situation.

James 3 describes the human tongue as a fire – a small part of the body that can set a forest on fire. Verse 8 says that no one can tame the tongue because it is a restless evil and full of poison. It cannot be trusted – it can say something positive one moment and the opposite the next.

As devastating as the loss of a burned-out home is, it is probably easier to rebuild a house than it is to repair the damage caused by an out-of-control tongue. Words can kill a relationship, destroy a marriage and damage trust to the point that it cannot be restored.

Words come so easily and at the time might seem like tiny sparks, but their potential impact is huge. The winds of gossip can take our words and quickly blow them in all directions. As they land on other people, their impact multiplies. They are like a fire out of control and their damage is nearly unstoppable.

As I reflect on the significance of July 4th in this country, I am impressed by how much was said with so few words in the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights and President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Then I listen to the ongoing, seemingly endless political speeches of our day and admit to an element of skepticism on my part as I tune them out.

Perhaps the difference is that those earlier writings were small sparks whose impact continues today, whereas much of the recent rhetoric lacks very much spark at all. I long to hear someone outline a basic, common sense agenda that each of us could buy into and support.

All of this reminds me that I need to pay close attention to the words that flow out of my mouth and the non-verbal impact they have. Attitude and expression say a lot. I need to think before I speak and be sure that my words are based on accurate information, with a focus that is wholesome and uplifting rather than destructive.

Through the years, we have watched communities recover from fires as they rebuilt homes, replaced possessions and cherished life. We have also seen relationships destroyed by words that did damage beyond repair.

As we celebrate Independence Day this weekend, let’s focus on positive words and uplifting attitudes. Independence is also about freedom to choose to control the tongue!

Pastor Bill Ehmann

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

RECENT POSTS

Happy Hurting

By wvbaptist | June 28, 2018 | 0 Comments

June 27, 2018 It is natural for humans to try to avoid hurting. When given a choice to experience something that makes us feel good or something that hurts, most likely we would choose to feel good. While I would […]

Hospitality

By wvbaptist | June 20, 2018 | 0 Comments

June 20, 2018 I have read two books recently about hospitality. One is called “Stranger God” and deals with the directive in Hebrews: “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing, some people have entertained angels without knowing […]

Not Like It Used to Be

By wvbaptist | June 13, 2018 | 0 Comments

June 13, 2018 Ezra 3 records the Israelites celebrating as they finished rebuilding the foundation of the temple in Jerusalem. That beautiful building was destroyed by King Nebuchadnezzar when he conquered Jerusalem and took the people captive to Babylonia. As […]

Seasons

By wvbaptist | June 7, 2018 | 0 Comments

June 6, 2018 I consider it a gift to live on a part of Planet Earth that has four definite seasons. The beauty of each one brings enjoyment, but they also provide reminders that our individual lives have seasons. Springtime […]

Remembering the Ten Commandments

By wvbaptist | May 30, 2018 | 0 Comments

May 30, 2018 Most laws written nowadays involve many pages. A simple agreement for the purchase of an item often involves several pages of fine print and multiple signatures. When it comes to government contracts, which can include thousands of […]

Scroll to Top