What will our words be like today?

我们今天会说出什么样的话呢？

The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. James 3:5

这样，舌头在百体里也是最小的，却能说大话。看哪，最小的火能点着最大的树林。-雅各书3章5节

It was a Sunday night in September and most people were sleeping when a small fire broke out in Thomas Farriner’s bakery on Pudding Lane. Soon the flames spread from house to house and London was engulfed in the Great Fire of 1666. Over 70,000 people were left homeless by the blaze that leveled four-fifths of the city. So much destruction from such a small fire!

在九月的一个星期天夜晚，许多人早已进入梦乡。伦敦布丁巷里一间面包店发生了小火灾，没想到火势迅速蔓延，以致许多地区也陷入一片火海，最后酿成了史上有名的1666年伦敦大火。那晚伦敦市有五分之四的面积受到波及，超过七万人无家可归。只是一个小火灾，想不到竟造成这么大的破坏。

The Bible warns us of another small but destructive fire. James was concerned about lives and relationships, not buildings, when he wrote, “The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark” (James 3:5).

圣经也警示我们另一个虽小却具毁灭性的火灾，正如雅各说：“舌头在百体里也是最小的，却能说大话。看哪，最小的火能点着最大的树林”（雅各书3章5节）。雅各所关心的并不是建筑物的损毁，而是人的生命和关系。

But our words can also be constructive. Proverbs 16:24 reminds us, “Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.” The apostle Paul says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Col. 4:6). As salt flavors our food, grace flavors our words for building up others.

然而，我们的言语也能具有建设性。箴言16章24节提醒我们：“良言如同蜂房，使心觉甘甜，使骨得医治。”使徒保罗也说：“你们的言语要常常带着和气，好像用盐调和，就可知道该怎样回答各人”（歌罗西书4章6节） 。如同盐使我们的食物变得有味道，同样地，我们的言语若带着宽容和气，就能帮助别人有所成长。

Through the help of the Holy Spirit our words can encourage people who are hurting, who want to grow in their faith, or who need to come to the Savior. Our words can put out fires instead of starting them.

我们的言语藉由圣灵的帮助，就能安慰受到伤害的人、激励想在灵里成长的人，或引导人来到救主的面前。我们的言语应用来灭火，而非用来引发大火。

Lord, I can always use help with the way I talk. For this day, help me to speak words of hope and encouragement to build up others.

主啊，求祢帮助我说话合宜，让我今天能说出充满盼望且鼓励的言语，使人得益处。

James 3:3-12New International Version (NIV)

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

整理：于姊妹