THE CAREFUL BUILDER

OK, this is not our typical devotional today. Last night I was watching the 2 football games that were on and at the half, Lou Holtz was on and he recited this poem. So, I went and found it on the internet to see exactly what it said and I tought it woul make a pretty good devotional. It reminded of James 3.



THE CAREFUL BUILDER

I saw them tearing a building down - a gang of men, in my hometown.

With a heave, and a ho, and a 'yes, yes!' yell They swung a beam, and a sidewall fell.

I said to the foreman, "Are these men skilled? Like the ones you'd use if you had to build?"

He laughed and said, "Oh, no! Indeed! The most common labor's all I need. Because I can destroy, in a day or two, what it takes a builder ten years to do."

And I thought to myself, as I went my way - Which of these roles am I willing to play?

Am I one, who's tearing down, as I carelessly make my way around?

Or am I one who builds with care? So my family, my community, is just a little better, because I was there.



So, I think we should read James 3 it and meditate on it.

James 3

Taming the Tongue

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or 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. 5Likewise 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. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.