10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
James writes in this popular passage about our inability to control what we say, that two very different types of speech come from us. With our mouth we worship and with our mouth we also put down people. This is like kissing a dog on its lips right after it has licked its butt. The two should not go together. Some environments are conducive to uplifting language. Some places of employment make it easier to speak kindly of other people. But our environment does not excuse our lack of control. We are responsible for the things that come out of our mouths. Cursing in this verse is not swearing. Instead, it is expressing of the desire for harm to come to another person. It is wishing someone ill. The “I wish they were dead” types of statements. Praising is just the opposite. It is expressing the desire that they get the best of life. Praising lifts up. Cursing pushes down. Our homes often have the greatest examples of these two types of speech. If you could only hear how you speak to your children and your spouse. This should not be, James writes. If we need help in any area of our lives it probably is in our speech. I want to ask you to ask the Lord to show you the impact of your words. That your eyes and ears would be open to hear yourself and the crippling impact of your words. Our words become the blast furnace and those who hear our words are as delicate flowers.
The Arnold Journey 