In the book of James, we can read about the tongue. It is the smallest member of the body, yet it conceals so much power. But the fact of the matter is that the heart if the real culprit. Jesus Himself said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
"A soft answer turns away wrath; but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1, Amplified
Friction begets more friction. If you take two sticks and rub them together long enough, then you will get fire. Add water into the mix and it becomes impossible. This is what a soft answer becomes. Smokey the Bear tells us that only we can prevent forest fires, and the Holy Spirit is telling us the same things here. It is completely within our power to prevent that spark of anger, so long as what is in our hearts is pure. Jesus said, "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45, NKJV)
"The tongue of the wise utters knowledge rightly, but the mouth of [self-confident] fools pours out folly." Proverbs 15:2, Amplified
It is possible to have knowledge and to use that knowledge inappropriately. The one who uses it as such becomes the fool pouring out his own folly. Knowledge saves, knowledge prepares. Knowledge should never be used for ones own advantage. Again, we are forced to look at what Jesus said about the abundance of the heart. If one's heart is good, then the use of knowledge will be used correctly and help those around the individual. But if the heart be evil, then knowledge is turned to folly.
Knowledge and the human heart can be either like the mustard seed or the leaven. In the case of the mustard seed, there is an abnormal growth for the seed should produce a shrub and not a tree. With the leaven, there is a very natural poisoning process which takes place. A lump of dough will begin to ferment even if a little bit of the yeast is placed at one end. Whether or not these two instances describe the church or the individual human heart makes no difference. The point is the evaluate the heart. What treasures lurk within the storehouse of your heart?
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