Putting Out Grease Fires

By: Keefe Wilson

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Without wood a fire goes out; without a gossip a quarrel dies down. Proverbs 26:20

Have you ever tried to put out a grease fire? When we were stationed in Grand Forks, North Dakota, I made the mistake of trying to put out a grease fire with water... I was frying fish for dinner one evening, but I stepped away to find out why one of our kids was crying. Minutes later, I smelled something burning, and I rushed back to find the skillet on fire. I panicked and reached for a bowl of water. Just as I was about to throw it, my wife shouted, "No, don't!" but it was too late... When the water hit the grease, flames shot to the ceiling and scorched our cabinets. But my wife knew exactly what to do! She threw flour on the fire, covered it with a lid, and the flames instantly died. I also remember her looking over at me and just shaking her head.

That day, I learned a valuable lesson: never use water on a grease fire! You smother it with a lid because fire can't exist without oxygen. But Christ followers must stay alert, because Satan causes spiritual "grease fires" to pop up all around us. Fires started by the enemy will affect us spiritually and emotionally. We all face intense moments in life, things like heated arguments, emotional meltdowns, and inconsiderate outbursts. Just like my grease fire, they can all cause additional damage if we don't put them out quickly. These spiritual fires can cause division in our homes, at work, and even within the church.

Proverbs 26 tells us we can quench a spiritual fire by not feeding it. If we react emotionally in the heat of the moment by pouring out our frustration, shouting loudly, or holding on to unforgiveness we are adding fuel to the fire. Instead of extinguishing it, we are fanning those flames into a destructive blaze. But extinguishing spiritual "grease fires" requires godly wisdom and the Holy Spirit's help. Remember, the Spirit of God is our best source of wisdom! The next time you encounter a fiery situation, don't react! Stay calm and listen to the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to help you surrender your anger and forsake your pride. If you're feeling stressed out, ask God to give you His peace.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1

We can put out the enemy's fires by giving "gentle answers" -vs- loud and prideful ones. To keep those spiritual fires from restarting, we must always make sure God is ruling our heart, not our emotions!