Tongue-foo

Recently, I was walking along side another woman in the grocery store heading to the check-out line.  When it came time to actually get in the line, she picked up her step and merged in front of me without even looking back.  Of course, my first reaction was the "humphed" that snuck from my throat followed by the need to let her know how rude she was for cutting in front of me.  Then I remembered James 1:26 from my quiet time that morning:  "If you claim to be religious but don't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself and your religion is worthless."  In other words, if I was to give that woman a 'piece of my mind', the fact that I call myself a "Christian" would be meaningless ('cause I wouldn't be putting into practice the precepts outlined in the bible for handling situations such as this one).  What are some other areas where the tongue needs to be controlled?

• Anger - James 1:20, "Human anger does not produce the righteousness of God."
• Criticism - Romans 2:1 (The Message), "Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors."
• Gossip - Proverbs 16:28, "A troublemaker plants seeds of strife; gossip separates the best of friends."
• Complaining - Proverbs 27:16, "Stopping her complaints is like trying to stop the wind or trying to hold something with greased hands."

Obviously I could go on and on with examples of "tongue-foo."  Fight it where you find it in your life so that "everything you say may be good and helpful so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." (Ephesians 4:29)