It’s funny how we (people) tend to decide for ourselves what is important to God, and what is not. More specifically, what sins are “10s”, and which ones are only “2s”.   For instance, when we read of someone perpetrating a heinous crime, we roll our eyes and say how bad that was, but we relegate sins of speech to minor ones. We even give them names like “little white lies”.  This may be due to the fact that we all have these sins in common.   But it might surprise you to know that the Bible (old and new Testament) devotes a great deal of time to the sins of speech; cause, caution, and cure.  It may manifest itself in the Bible as Lips, Tongue, Mouth, Speech, Words, or Conversation, and if you still think it is a benign problem, listen to what God says about it in Proverbs 13:3 - “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.”   Sounds to me like He is serious about it. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.” - Prov. 18:21. In Matt. Chapter 5, Jesus promises us we will all give an account for every idle word. Every chapter of James makes reference to the tongue, and there are at least 150 references in the book of Proverbs.  For it’s potential evil, it is described as “wicked, corrupt, lying, deceitful, slanderous, perverse, bitter, gossip, foolish, blasphemous and murmuring”.  Here’s a painful Nugget: The more we talk, the greater the likelihood that we will fall into one of these categories.  Spiritual Switch: When Jesus was asked (Matt. 22) what the greatest commandment was, He replied: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.” - 37-39.   Yet Prov. 11:9 says: “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour:”.     From another perspective, we talk a lot about what  “Grieves” the Spirit, but what is it? A litany is given in Eph. 4:29-31. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice:”.  Do you see a pattern developing?  This is the problem. It is the most common problem. If you have never experienced a great fuss or Church split, let me warn you; it Won’t likely be a great scandalous sin that causes the problem, it will be someone wagging their tongue.  Pray it isn’t you.   Next week we will identify some specific symptoms, and some Practical steps to avoid or even cure the problem.   God Bless <><