According to World Resources Institute, data studied at the University of Maryland from 2001 through 2024 calculates forest fires now burn more than twice as much tree cover annually as tabulated twenty years ago. In 2024 alone, at least 13.5 million hectares of forest burned around the globe. Since one hectare is approximately 2.4 acres, that equates to forest fires about the size of Greece. Those fires not only have implications for the forests, but also infrastructure, drinking water, wildlife, and surrounding communities.
Fires can be devastating. I was driving down the road last summer and saw smoke. That old saying is usually true, “Where there’s smoke there’s fire.” When I made it through the smoke, I realized there was a grass fire on the side of the road. With the prairie winds, it quickly turned into a blaze on the side of the freeway! I called into the local police department to make a report and was assured firefighters were quickly heading to the scene. It’s amazing what one little spark can do.
I was reading in my Bible in the book of James and came upon a few fiery verses. I read the Scripture and paused as I relived the fire scene I encountered on the side of the road.
James 3:2-12 says, “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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. 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. 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. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water” (NIV).
These Bible verses warn us our tongue is a fire—a world of evil that corrupts the whole body. Your tongue can set the whole course of your life on fire. It’s not a fire to play with. I like the way the Message version says it, “It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell” (MSG).
We know there is no human that can tame their tongue. The Bible describes the tongue as a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the very same tongue we praise the Father and we curse people who have been made in His image. One mouth both praises and curses.
Fires can be restless and reckless at the same time and spread erratically. Take heed to the danger. There are warning signs for a reason. Don’t play with fire. Practice putting out fires in your own life before they are set ablaze. It only takes a spark to start a forest fire.
How can you praise God more and prevent wildfires that your tongue is destructively creating? Will you learn to pause when things are getting heated, when you know the Holy Spirit is requiring you to be silent? Will you ask for forgiveness promptly when you know you should? Listen to the Holy Spirit.
Will you be one to add fuel to the fire or water to the flames? Don’t let your situation escalate to an out-of-control wildfire. You have a choice, Mr. or Mrs. Firefighter! What will it be today? Will you control your tongue and put out fires before they get out of control?
How can you make Monumental Moments and live to multiply His movement today?
