Fire Control

In 1944 the National Forest Service introduced the cartoon character Smokey Bear as the mascot for fire prevention. Soon afterward, a fire caused by human negligence ravaged 17,000 acres of forest in Capitan, New Mexico. During this fire, a tine bear cub scampered up a tree. With badly burned paws and hind legs, the cub clung tenaciously to that pine tree until he was found by a firefighter. The cub was quickly dubbed Smokey Bear. School-age children were able to complete the phrase, "Only you..." with the concluding words "...can prevent forest fires." The phrase grew more popular than any other motto.
   In the book of James we learn that our tongues can either be fire igniters or fire extinguishers. James pointed out that believers often engage in gossip, slander and backbiting. While working to build up the body of Christ with the actions, their tongues can insidiously cause fires throughout the church.
   Lightning sometimes causes wildfires. But nine out of ten wildfires are caused by human negligence or arson. In the south-western United States, a freight train threw sparks into ranch land, destroying 40,000 acres, along with an untold number of cattle. Word fires, like gossip, have split churches, ruined lives and can be just as scorching as forest fires. In California, landscape designers use ground cover as fire-retardant buffers around valuable property. Rather than using your words as combustible fodder, why not choose words that are fire resistant? Here are 12 words to quench a hot situation:
1: "Please" and 2, 3: "Thank you:" Like water, these words refresh the listener.
4, 5: "I'm sorry." These two words quench the flames of heated arguments.
6, 7, 8: "I love you." These words carry tremendous power. They are the Niagara Falls of words.
9, 10, 11, 12: "I'm praying for you." These words let others know that you will ask God to give them the living water of Jesus and the Word. They will hydrate a dry and weary soul.
-Women's Devotional Bible

-Psalm 52:1-5

1 Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?

Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?

2 All day long you plot destruction.

Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;

you’re an expert at telling lies.

3 You love evil more than good

and lies more than truth.

Interlude

4 You love to destroy others with your words,

you liar!

5 But God will strike you down once and for all.

He will pull you from your home

and uproot you from the land of the living.

-Proverbs 11:11-13

11 Upright citizens are good for a city and make it prosper,

but the talk of the wicked tears it apart.

12 It is foolish to belittle one’s neighbor;

a sensible person keeps quiet.

13 A gossip goes around telling secrets,

but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

-Proverbs 12:17-19

17 An honest witness tells the truth;

a false witness tells lies.

18 Some people make cutting remarks,

but the words of the wise bring healing.

19 Truthful words stand the test of time,

but lies are soon exposed.

-James 1:22-26

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.  

25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.