Thoughts for another day

Jan. 28, 2010

Today's verse: James 3:9. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. (KJV)
(Pls. read the above before you read further. Thanks)

Human beings are rather complex and difficult to understand many times, the ‘intelligent’ kind particularly! At one moment they’ll drip sugar and honey, and at other times, they’ll spew venom. Our scripture today is related to this aspect of dualism of the humankind, and James speaks of the tongue which on one side blesses God and sings praise to Him and then goes and curses His creatures.

While James speaks of the tongue which does this, we must understand that the tongue is just a tool we employ in portraying our character in speech. More importantly, it also signifies the good and the bad that exists in man simultaneously by which the complication of understanding him is magnified. What is implicit in James verse is, how it could be possible for both natures to exist in man with the ability to show different characters at different times. But man, as he matures harbors both contrasting natures in himself. He grows up doing it so well that at times he is really nice and at other times he is evil to the core and the recipient of his goodness rarely knows about his dark side!

God hates dualism. Jesus says, let your yes, be yes and your no, be no. It means, be very sure of what you are up to leaving no room for doubt and then let it be only that. On the other hand He also says, either be hot or cold or He will spew you out of His mouth. God doesn’t like our dualism. On one hand we sing praises to Him in the church and as soon as we come out, we rain brimstone on another human being. Don’t we have specimen of these in the communities we live? It’s also possible we are like that. It’s time to take stock today to understand clearly that it’s better to know God well and adopt a nature pleasing to Him and then be constant in that nature.