"Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing, my brethren, these things ought not to be so.
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter water from the same opening?
Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no springs yields both salt water and fresh."
James 3:10-12 (NKJV)
In Germany, and other nations, there are springs of water that you can go to and get very fresh, sweet water. Rivers high up in the mountains have water that is also very fresh, and you can drink right from those rivers. Unfortunately, sometimes a spring or river can become polluted. When that happens, no one should drink from that water, because the water would be harmful. Once the water is polluted, it is no longer fresh, even though it was at one time, because water cannot be fresh and polluted at the same time.
One theme that is seen again and again in the Bible is the importance, and power, of our words. While some people have taken this topic to an extreme, the fact remains that the Bible shows us how our words can help or harm people. If we are consistently speaking negative and harmful words to others, we will only hurt them. But, if we speak positive and kind words to others, we will build them up and encourage them, because our words do matter. The words we speak about ourselves, and others, will have an impact on us and those we speak to.
In James 3, it compares the words we speak to water that comes from a spring, which can be fresh water, or it can be bitter water, but it cannot be both at the same time. In the same way, our words can be a blessing, like fresh spring water, or a curse, like bitter water, but our words cannot be both at the same time. And if our words are sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse, the result is that the words we intend to be good words are diluted and will not have the value and impact that they should, because our words are inconsistent. We need to watch our words and speak words of life that bring fresh water to others.
Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter water from the same opening?
Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no springs yields both salt water and fresh."
James 3:10-12 (NKJV)
In Germany, and other nations, there are springs of water that you can go to and get very fresh, sweet water. Rivers high up in the mountains have water that is also very fresh, and you can drink right from those rivers. Unfortunately, sometimes a spring or river can become polluted. When that happens, no one should drink from that water, because the water would be harmful. Once the water is polluted, it is no longer fresh, even though it was at one time, because water cannot be fresh and polluted at the same time.
One theme that is seen again and again in the Bible is the importance, and power, of our words. While some people have taken this topic to an extreme, the fact remains that the Bible shows us how our words can help or harm people. If we are consistently speaking negative and harmful words to others, we will only hurt them. But, if we speak positive and kind words to others, we will build them up and encourage them, because our words do matter. The words we speak about ourselves, and others, will have an impact on us and those we speak to.
In James 3, it compares the words we speak to water that comes from a spring, which can be fresh water, or it can be bitter water, but it cannot be both at the same time. In the same way, our words can be a blessing, like fresh spring water, or a curse, like bitter water, but our words cannot be both at the same time. And if our words are sometimes a blessing and sometimes a curse, the result is that the words we intend to be good words are diluted and will not have the value and impact that they should, because our words are inconsistent. We need to watch our words and speak words of life that bring fresh water to others.
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