One of the excuses often given for hurting people with our words is "I was just kidding." Proverbs 26:18-19 blows that excuse up. "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, 'I am only joking!'"If there was a crazy man, we would lock him up so that he couldn't hurt himself or other people. We certainly wouldn't let him have burning sticks, arrows, and deadly weapons! Unfortunately, some people are like a crazy man spewing hurtful words, dirty jokes, and barbed sarcasm in all directions. When somebody finally stops him for a few seconds and asks if he realizes the destruction he has caused, he says, "It's not my fault they took it that way!"
Saying "I didn't mean to hurt anybody" is not an excuse. We are responsible for our words. We have to remember that our words affect other people.
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