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IMPROVING OUR RELATIONSHIP (9 OF 13)

by Scott Maze

Scripture: James 4:11-12
This content is part of a series.


Improving Our Relationship (9 of 13)
Series: Balance: A Study of the Book of James
Scott Maze
James 4:11-12


A Baptist preacher and a Methodist pastor from two local churches are standing by the side of the road, feverishly pounding a hand made sign into the ground with a large rock. The sign reads: ''The End Is Near! Turn Around Now Before It's Too Late!'' As a car speeds past them, the driver yells, ''Leave us alone, you religious wacko's!'' From the curve they hear screeching tires and a big splash. The Methodist turns to the Baptist and asks, ''Do you think the sign should just say 'Bridge Out'?''

Words are very important tools used to build our relationships. Our words are powerful instruments affecting our entire network of relationships.

Jon Kleinberg, Cornell University professor, analyzed all the annual State of the Union addresses given by US Presidents since 1790. He found that particular word ''bursts'' could indeed be linked to important events at the time the speeches were delivered. He noted the frequency of words influenced the times in which they were spoken. In the years that immediately followed the American Revolution, for example, sudden bursts in the use of words such as ''militia,'', ''British'' and ''savages'' are found. From 1930 to 1937 a spike in the use of the word ''depression'' is seen. And from 1949 to 1959 ''atomic'' is the most frequent word used. Later in the 20th century, words such as ''Vietnam,'' ''Soviet,'' ''communist'' and ''Afghanistan'' increase sharply in usage.

Words are powerful instruments used to build our relationships. James speaks to us this morning about the negative effect our words can play upon others.

Today's Scripture

''Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one l ...

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