Our tongues can be powerful weapons. You can use words to share the love of God with another person, and through your witness they are brought to faith. You can also use words to curse God and lead others away from Him. With a word, you can cheer another person up and brighten their whole day.or you can ruin their beautiful day and bring them pain.

God understands the power of our tongues. In James 3:5-12, He talks about that power and how we can and should use it.

With what does James compare the tongue? (verses 5-6)  

Where does James say the tongue gets its fire?  

In what two ways does James say we use our tongues? (verse 9)  

Because the tongue is so powerful and can cause much good or great damage, God gave us a rule about it: "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor!" Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran Church, explains what it means to "bear false witness." He says, "We should fear and love God that we may not deceitfully lie, betray, slander or defame (cause to have shame) our neighbor; but defend him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything."

Luther's explanation stresses the positive things we can do with our words.

In what ways can you defend your neighbor?  

How can your speaking well of your neighbor help when others are attacking him?  

Gossip and rumors cannot continue to spread if each of us puts the best construction on everything we see and hear.give the neighbor the benefit of the doubt before we judge his words or actions.

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