Seasoned with salt

Like a fire, the tongue can heat things up. Proverbs 26:20 says 'Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.'


James 3:5 also says 'So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!' If no one were fueling it, the fire would go out; the strife would cease.'

Fire can be very destructive just as the tongue can. Fire burns and hurts, and our words can burn and hurt. Fire spreads, and the more fuel you give it, the faster and farther it will spread. The tongue can spread hurtful gossip and the more fuel you give it the faster it spreads. The sad thing is, words can break hearts and destroy reputations.

Instead of using the tongue for destruction, we can use it for edification. We see in Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

Choose to put the fire out! Don't listen to or spread gossip!