When I was young my Daddy was doing some yard work. This involved having a fire built. At one point my Mama, who was helping him with the yard work, got his attention to help her with something. Well this took longer than expected and when he walked back to his fire it had spread and had engulfed my play house as we called it. This play house is where the majority of my toys were located. This means I experienced a pretty big loss because of his lack of attention to the fire.
It says in James 3:6 the tongue is a fire. If we do not pay attention to our words that roll off of our tongues we can set a fire that will hurt others. We can set a fire that can consume others with our words. If ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another (Galatians 5:15).
If you were walking around with a stick that was on fire you would be very cautious so that you didn’t burn anyone. Just like you are cautious with real fire you should be cautious with the fire that your tongue can set. You should endeavor to 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 (Ephesians 4:29 KJV). Because a gentle tongue is a tree of life, but deceit in it crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:4 NHEB).
1 Peter 3:8-10 KJV 8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: 9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. 10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:
Proverbs 21:23 NHEB Whoever guards his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from troubles.
Galatians 5:14-15 KJV 14 For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15 But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.