To act hastily and not consider the consequence of our actions is a common problem. The word “clouded” is used to describe blurred aims and decisions. We have observed local and national governments acting strangely many times because of blurred and unclear rulings. When one has been misguided and/or there are fixed standards to guide the decision making process, the result will be clouded. To act on clouded and unclear action policy is foolish.
We Need to Let the Dust Settle
I learned to drive a car on the back roads in northeast Mississippi. There were still a lot of dirt roads in Mississippi in the 1950’s, and dust was always a problem, especially in the hot and dry summertime. Driving produced a thick cloud of dust. When a vehicle passed, you better slow down because the dust was blinding. We remember an idiom, “let the dust settle.” Could it be that this figure of speech originated from driving on dirt roads in Mississippi? From a practical point of view, when we are faced with an important decision to make, a problem, a quarrel or the like, “let the dust settle” before speaking or acting. Our words communicate our thoughts and our inner feelings, be it good or bad. Do we blurt out a comment before we think? Oh, that gets us in a lot of trouble, does it not? Blurred thinking and planning will only cause greater problems.
Calm, Thoughtful Action and Speech Needed
“Wise men lay up knowledge; But the mouth of the foolish is a present destruction” (Proverbs 10:14 ASV). “Ye know this, my beloved brethren. But let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” (James 1:19).
And the tongue is a fire: the world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the wheel of nature, and is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beasts and birds, of creeping things and things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed by mankind. But the tongue can no man tame; it is a restless evil, it is full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: out of the same mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. (James 3:6-10)
Commentary on James 3:10 – “out of the same
mouth cometh forth blessing and cursing. My
brethren, these things ought not so to be.”
In the admonition here and in the preceding verse (James 3:9) MacKnight thought that James might have had reference to a widespread custom of early Christian times, in which Christians were “cursed bitterly in Jewish synagogues.” It would appear, however, that it is not particularly the sins of Jews in cursing Christians that James dealt with, but the habit of some “brethren” engaged in the awful business of cursing men! All such unchristian conduct is vigorously denounced. (Coffman 77)
Prudence over Rude Speech and Misguided Action
I have also seen wisdom under the sun on this wise, and it seemed great unto me: There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it. Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good. (Ecclesiastes 9:13-18)
Works Cited
Coffman, James Burton. Commentary on James, 1 & 2 Peter, 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude. Abilene: ACU P., 1984.
