Proper 24 - B - James 3:10 - Love and Language - Dwight Lyman Moody

"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.
My brethren, these things ought not so to be."
~James 3:10

" People often ask, "How can I keep from swearing?" I will tell you. If God puts His love into your heart, you will have no desire to curse Him. I was preaching one day in the open air, when a man drove up in a fine carriage, and after listening a little while, he put the whip to his fine-looking steed, and away he went.

Later, I visited him at his home. "I am told that God has blessed you above all men in this part of the country. He has given you wealth, a beautiful Christian wife, and seven lovely children. I do not know if it is true, but I hear that all He gets in return is cursing and blasphemy."

The man said, "What you say is true. But you don't know anything about a businessman's troubles. When he is harassed and tormented the whole time, he can't help swearing."

"Yes," I said, "he can. I used to swear at myself." I began to tell him about Christ in the heart and how that would take the temptation to swear out of a man. At the next church prayer meeting, the man was there. He said, "My friends, I want to have you pray for my salvation."

Thirty-odd years later I spoke to the man. He said, "I have never had a desire to swear since then. It was all taken away." He was not only converted but became an earnest, active Christian, and all these years has been serving God. "