JAMES DAY 32 - Watch Your Mouth

DAY 32
WATCH YOUR MOUTH
James 4:11-12

Where does pride show itself in our lives?

This first example of pride that James mentions probably doesn’t surprise us: “Brothers and sisters, don’t slander one another.” Slander means lying to hurt someone’s reputation. Lies are bad enough, but James probably doesn’t want us trash-talking people at all, true or not. He says slander is “judging your neighbor.” You’re judging people when you trash-talk them. You’re also judging God’s law. God’s law says, “Love your neighbor as yourself” and fleshes that out in places like Lev. 19:16 that says, “Don’t go around slandering people.”

When you put yourself above the law and pass sentence on people, you’re taking God’s job. Guess what that is? Pride. Pride says, “I’m better than you and the rules don’t apply to me.” Pride pushes you to hurt people with your words.

Does this mean we can’t confront people when they do something wrong? Should we just say, “Better not judge?” That’s how many people misunderstand Jesus when he says, “Do not judge” (Matthew 7). Once again, we better understand if we go back to the source. For James, that was Leviticus 19. Just after God’s warning not to slander, the Israelites were told, “Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD” (Lev 19:17-18).

Ignoring evil is no better than presuming to be God’s attack dog, sniffing out sin wherever it might be. Wisdom finds the balance between a critical spirit spewing hash words and apathy toward evil.

REFLECT
How does slander make us people who judge our neighbor and God’s law?

PRAY
Lord, I’m sorry for hurting people with my words. I’m sorry for times when I’ve had an overly critical spirit toward others. Forgive me. Change me. Teach me how to watch my mouth. Amen.