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James and the Tamed Tongue
Your words are a super power. Will you use them for good or for evil?
A review of our journey through James:
-James is writing to believers who were facing difficult days and his letter is reminding them of what is critical.
-In the trial and through the trial, God is working.
-Do not doubt Him in the midst of the trial you are facing, but instead persevere.
-Keep trusting Him, even in difficult circumstances, because our God is generous and He is at work.
-This faith that we proclaim impacts how we live, because we don’t just read the Word, we do the Word.
-We are people of action and this impacts everything:
-it impacts our attitude, how we respond to others (we are quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger)
-it impacts the way we treat those that others ignore
-it prevents us from showing favoritism or discriminating among God’s children
-To claim to have faith without acting on it is worthless. It’s dead faith.
-Abraham and Rahab were considered righteous because of what they did. Their faith resulted in action.
Today, as we turn the page to chapter 3, we see another specific example of what this faith in action looks like.
James 3:1-12
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Our words have incredible power. And James provides three specific visuals of something small having such great power:
-bits in the mouths of horses (verse 3)
-the rubber of a large ship (verse 4)
-a small spark igniting a large fire (verse 5)
“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James 3:6
-James says that our mouths can be set on fire by hell.
-When bragging, or lies, or gossip is flowing out of my mouth, that is not of the Lord. When harsh words, or yelling, or dishonoring others is flowing out of my mouth, that is not of the Lord.
-Jesus himself spoke pointedly about this topic also.
Matthew 12:36-37
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Your words are a super power. Will you use them for good or for evil?
The challenge:
Speak life-giving words to others every chance you get.
Other verses for further study/reflection:
Matthew 18:18
Proverbs 13:3
Ephesians 4:29
James is known as “the Proverbs of the New Testament” and that is evident in connection to James 3:1-12:
-“The tongue has the power of life and death.” – Proverbs 18:21
-“There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” – Proverbs 12:18
-“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.” – Proverbs 13:3
-“A brother who has been insulted is harder to win back than a walled city, and arguments separate people like the barred gates of a palace.” – Proverbs 18:19
-“The words of a good person are like pure silver, but an evil person’s thoughts are worth very little.” – Proverbs 10:20
-“Without wood, a fire will go out, and without gossip, quarreling will stop.” – Proverbs 26:20
-“Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles.” – Proverbs 21:23
James in 8 Minutes
This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY