Watch what you say

“My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” James 1:19
This is good advice to people of all ages and to people throughout the ages. We are all guilty of jumping into conversations without first listening to what the other person is saying. It’s been said that God gave us two ears and one mouth, so we should listen twice as much as we talk.
Words are powerful (and James goes on in ch. 3 to talk about the power of the tongue). They have the power to build someone up, or to tear that same person down. Once hurtful words have been said, it is impossible for us to take them back. Similarly when we get angry, it stirs up strife that cannot be easily calmed. James 1:20 goes on to say, “for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires”. Anger itself is not a sin - Jesus got angry (Mark 3:5, John 2:13-17). But His was always a righteous anger, because He saw God being profaned by the people. He never got angry at what people did or said to Him personally. Anything that comes out of our fleshly motives, for self-promotion, is not of God.
James 3:2 says, “If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.” The ultimate display of self-control is being able to control what comes out of your mouth. Proverbs says, “Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue” (Prov. 17:28). We can all do better at watching what we say to other people.