May My Tongue Be Set to Praise

Just a few weeks ago, a 21 year old member at the credit union to which I work, told his younger brother that there was nothing in life worth living for any longer. Not long after, that young man went to the rooftop of the 25 story condo building in which he lived & jumped off plummeting himself to his death. When I entered into my workplace to learn of this news, I was told that the young man “fell” off a tall building & died. We’ve since come to learn that he did not fall; he took his life. I’ve known this family since I started my job in 2007 & even if I did not know them, my heart would still ache for their loss. I do not know the reason(s) why this guy felt there was nothing to live for but I question whether or not he knew his worth. As I’ve spent time thinking about this sorrowful story, I’ve thought much about words. Just as a small spark can ignite a great fire in a forest, so can the tongue (small as it may be), cause immense damage. I’ve oftentimes battled reading the book of James in the Bible as I’m heavily convicted about the things that roll off my tongue. As children, many of us learned the saying “Sticks & stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” I don’t think anything can be further from the truth. I’ve been giving a lot of thought to just how powerful our words can be; they have the power to heal or to destroy. What comes out of our mouth may be a determining factor of life or death for someone. Daily, I enter into work & face a co-worker who irritates me like no other. I believe God has used the death of this young man to remind me how much He values each life. James 3:8 - 11 says, "No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise Our Lord & Father, & with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise & cursing. My brothers & sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water & salt water flow from the same spring?" These scriptures have been at the forefront of my thoughts. As I face individuals, I pray that God would help me to see them through His eyes & to treat them as persons of great worth, persons that were created by God & persons that are loved deeply by Our Maker. I carry around a key chain with Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing your sight, O Lord, My Rock & my Redeemer." Jesus, help the words that flow from my mouth be words that not only please You but edify & build up others. May others know of Your great love because of my love. Amen.

Below, I've included a video of a song that I first heard recently. I think this songs speaks greatly to the power of the tongue.