James 3:1-12
3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of ]nature; and it is set on fire by ]hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the]similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
As I study James, I am coming away with a whole different take on it. This is a book meant for readers to look in the mirror and see if they truly are believers or if they have deceived themselves. Jesus, James half-brother certainly dealt with this issue a lot. He talked about those, on the last days would say" Lord, Lord …" and He would say "Depart from Me, I never knew you." Jesus talked about the 3 soils that seemed to "be saved" but only one was and continued with parables about wheat and tares and sheep and goats. He addressed the Jews "who believed in Him (John 8), not as children of God or Abraham but rather children of the Devil. James is writing this book in order to have people "examine themselves to see if they are in the faith" 2Cor. 13:5 and have already given 5 tests. 1. True believers endure through trials. 2. True believers choose God over a sinful lifestyle 3. True believers help the poor and all those who are in need 4. True believers don't show favoritism. 5. True believers control their tongue. In chapter 3, we could read it as an admonition to watch what we say and control our tongue - which it certainly is, but maybe the way James intends it, since he says that no one is able to tame the tongue, is to scrutinize yourself and say, "OK, since I became a believer on such and such a date, has my speech improved? Do I still lie, curse, gossip, quarrel, boast, slander, insult, flatter, complain, argue, blame, and grumble? Do I compliment, encourage, pray, recite scripture, witness, worship, praise, thank, and give Godly teaching, instruction, and counsel?" The Holy Spirit changes our tongue if He is inside of us and if it isn't happening we need to ask if we are truly saved.
Not only is the tongue a messenger from the heart to reveal what is inside, James says the tongue can ruin our lives. Just this week we see Kevin Hart turning down the Oscar hosting because something he said has come back to haunt him. How many public figures have lost jobs or had their future hopes, dreams, aspirations destroyed by one loose slip. Isaiah felt unqualified for the job of prophet because of his tongue so God came with a coal, in a vision, and cauterized his mouth to give him a fresh start.
Also, the tongue can ruin other's lives. The thoughts you have that condemn or discourage you are often voices from past teachers, coaches, parents, peers who have cut on you and they say it takes 99 positive words to overcome one negative. Personally, I feel that negative stick with you forever. In this passage, James talks about Bible teachers. How many Bible teachers are out there who are sending people to hell or at least building on undiscerning listener's foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Just this week someone posted an excerpt from a Joel Osteen message where he was saying that God wants everyone to have nice clothes, houses, etc.
Lastly, the tongue, if controlled an change our lives. I like this quote from J.A.Motyer;
"If our tongue were so under control that it refused to formulate the words
of self-pity, the thoughts of anger and resentment, the images of lustfulness,
then these things are cut down before they have a chance to live. The 'master
switch' has deprived them of any power to 'switch on' that side of our life."
He finishes by saying "The control of the tongue is more than an evidence of spiritual maturity; it is the means to it."
Tim Keller quotes a ministry that gives a 6 part tongue assignment. Try it for a week.
1. Do not complain or grumble
2. Don't boast about anything at all
3. Don't gossip or repeat bad information about someone else
4. Don't run someone down even a little bit
5. Don't defend or excuse yourself no matter what
6. Do always affirm other people.
As I study James, I am coming away with a whole different take on it. This is a book meant for readers to look in the mirror and see if they truly are believers or if they have deceived themselves. Jesus, James half-brother certainly dealt with this issue a lot. He talked about those, on the last days would say" Lord, Lord …" and He would say "Depart from Me, I never knew you." Jesus talked about the 3 soils that seemed to "be saved" but only one was and continued with parables about wheat and tares and sheep and goats. He addressed the Jews "who believed in Him (John 8), not as children of God or Abraham but rather children of the Devil. James is writing this book in order to have people "examine themselves to see if they are in the faith" 2Cor. 13:5 and have already given 5 tests. 1. True believers endure through trials. 2. True believers choose God over a sinful lifestyle 3. True believers help the poor and all those who are in need 4. True believers don't show favoritism. 5. True believers control their tongue. In chapter 3, we could read it as an admonition to watch what we say and control our tongue - which it certainly is, but maybe the way James intends it, since he says that no one is able to tame the tongue, is to scrutinize yourself and say, "OK, since I became a believer on such and such a date, has my speech improved? Do I still lie, curse, gossip, quarrel, boast, slander, insult, flatter, complain, argue, blame, and grumble? Do I compliment, encourage, pray, recite scripture, witness, worship, praise, thank, and give Godly teaching, instruction, and counsel?" The Holy Spirit changes our tongue if He is inside of us and if it isn't happening we need to ask if we are truly saved.
Not only is the tongue a messenger from the heart to reveal what is inside, James says the tongue can ruin our lives. Just this week we see Kevin Hart turning down the Oscar hosting because something he said has come back to haunt him. How many public figures have lost jobs or had their future hopes, dreams, aspirations destroyed by one loose slip. Isaiah felt unqualified for the job of prophet because of his tongue so God came with a coal, in a vision, and cauterized his mouth to give him a fresh start.
Also, the tongue can ruin other's lives. The thoughts you have that condemn or discourage you are often voices from past teachers, coaches, parents, peers who have cut on you and they say it takes 99 positive words to overcome one negative. Personally, I feel that negative stick with you forever. In this passage, James talks about Bible teachers. How many Bible teachers are out there who are sending people to hell or at least building on undiscerning listener's foundation wood, hay, and stubble. Just this week someone posted an excerpt from a Joel Osteen message where he was saying that God wants everyone to have nice clothes, houses, etc.
Lastly, the tongue, if controlled an change our lives. I like this quote from J.A.Motyer;
"If our tongue were so under control that it refused to formulate the words
of self-pity, the thoughts of anger and resentment, the images of lustfulness,
then these things are cut down before they have a chance to live. The 'master
switch' has deprived them of any power to 'switch on' that side of our life."
He finishes by saying "The control of the tongue is more than an evidence of spiritual maturity; it is the means to it."
Tim Keller quotes a ministry that gives a 6 part tongue assignment. Try it for a week.
1. Do not complain or grumble
2. Don't boast about anything at all
3. Don't gossip or repeat bad information about someone else
4. Don't run someone down even a little bit
5. Don't defend or excuse yourself no matter what
6. Do always affirm other people.
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