Using Your Tongue to Help, Not Hurt

Keys for Kids Daily Devotional for November 24, 2007
TITLE: Dangerous Weapon, or Silver?
SCRIPTURE: James 3:5-10
AUDIO: listen here
THE STORY FOR TODAY:
After supper one evening, Frank handed his father a paper. "Our new principal says we have to read these school rules and sign this paper to say we agree with them," he told his parents. "You're supposed to sign it, too."
"Okay," said Dad. "Let's see . . . Did you read these?"
"Sure," said Frank. He looked at the paper. "It says there's to be no hitting, no swearing, no weap . . . ah . . . What's this next word?"
"No weapons," read Frank's older brother Chad as he looked over Frank's shoulder. "That means no knives or guns-no dangerous stuff like that."
"You know," said Dad, "this makes me think of Sunday's sermon."
"Uh-oh!" Chad winked at Frank. "Here comes a Dad-lesson!"
"What dangerous weapon did the pastor preach about Sunday?" asked Dad with a smile.
"A weapon? In Sunday's sermon? Oh!" Chad grinned. "I get it! Yeah, Frank, you took a dangerous weapon to school today-your tongue!"
Frank frowned. "My tongue?" he asked in surprise.
"Pastor Martin talked about how we can use our tongues to hurt someone's feelings, tell lies, and cause all sorts of trouble," Dad explained. "A tongue out of control is like a weapon, and it can do a great deal of damage."
"Like when Shannon told everyone her brother still takes his teddy bear to bed," said Frank. "The kids all laughed, and he was really embarrassed!"
"Or when you . . ." began Chad.
"I see you get the idea," Dad interrupted, "but remember, too, that used rightly, the tongue brings praise to God." He picked up a pen. "I'll sign that we agree with the school rules. And I hope both you boys will be very careful to use your tongues for good, not evil."
"Okay, Dad." Frank signed the paper, too, and put it in his backpack.
"Uh . . . Frank," said Chad, "when you get to school tomorrow, don't tell the kids you've got a dangerous weapon with you, okay? I mean, you could really get in trouble for saying something like that!" He grinned. "I can see the headlines in the newspaper now . . . 'Local boy arrested for taking his tongue to school!'" Dad rolled his eyes as the brothers laughed.
MEMORY VERSE: The tongue of the righteous is choice silver. Proverbs 10:20
HOW ABOUT YOU? Do you remember that your tongue can be a dangerous weapon? Do you lie to get out of trouble? Or gossip about other kids? Do you use your tongue to boast or tell secrets? Think and pray before you start talking. Ask God to help you control your tongue. Use it for His glory. Then it will be like "choice silver" (see today's verse) rather than a dangerous weapon.
THE KEY: Use your tongue to help, not to hurt