I grew up with a saying that is so untrue. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never harm me,” is an untrue statement. Talking about others does YOU more harm than you even realize. Whether its family, church, work, or politics, what you say about others shows your maturity or lack thereof. The Bible is clear when it comes to being spiritually mature. Spiritual maturity is not measured by your religious efforts. It is not measured by the number of Bible verses you can quote. It is not even measured by the number of good things you do for others. The Bible tells us that our spiritual maturity is measured by the words that flow from our mouths. (James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.) James told us earlier in chapter one that if we consider ourselves religious and can’t control what we say, that we deceive ourselves and our religion is worthless. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. If you still find yourself talking about others, condemning those around you, belittling people, and criticizing those whose efforts you don’t agree with, you might want to check your measuring stick. Your religion could be worthless. Often, the one doing the talking is trying to cover up their own faults. They definitely show their immaturity. If you aren’t controlling your words, you certainly aren’t operating in the level of maturity God desires for you to have. Make your work for God count, control your tongue. Pastor Don