James 3:2-5 says,
The point here isn't that perfect people exist, for verse 2 tells us that "we all stumble." Instead James is making a point here that if a person can control their tongue (words), then the rest of the body would be a piece of cake in comparison. James goes on in verse 4 to compare the tongue (our words) to the rudder of a mighty ship. Is this not true in our everyday life? If you went to a job interview and spoke the right words you would get the job, but if you spoke rudely, arrogantly, or timidly, and saying the wrong things, then you wouldn't be as likely to get it.
Many a marriage has crashed and burned because of words. Little subtle words of discouragement back and forth over a long period of time is like taking small doses of arsenic until inevitably the marriage dies.
Parents, teachers, other adults, and our peers can say something and the child will often carry those words into their adult life and it becomes a part of them. Last night my wife and I watched a movie about the life of Celine Dion. Celine of course has a beautiful and powerful singing voice, yet as a child the other children made fun of her for having crooked teeth. Her older siblings told her she was a mistake. Even her record producer made an off handed remark saying, "although she's not the prettiest girl, she sure can sing" and Celine overheard these words. Of course she is actually a pretty woman and she went on to be a huge success in her music career, but she had these hurdles to overcome and it wasn't an easy task for her. Throughout her life she has carried a sense of inferiority and low self esteem, and this is even with millions of adoring fans and sold out shows.
James 3:6-8 says,
When I read verse 6 describing the tongue as a fire rumors and gossip comes to my mind. Just as fire spreads out and devours everything in it's path, words of rumor and gossip will do the same thing. I remember once in middle school a boy who liked the same girl I did started a rumor on me that wasn't true. Throughout the day I was being asked about it and sometimes taunted by other kids. I had to ask each person where they heard it and it kept tracing back to the same person. It wasn't long before I figured out who started the fire. If you strike a match and throw it in a field you can usually tell where the starting point was just by looking near the center of the burned area, for fire spreads out. Similarly, a trained fire fighter can trace back and usually find the place that the fire started. The same is true with rumors and gossip. It isn't hard to trace back to the person who started it.
As long as there is dry material fire will have a place to go, and as long as there are hungry ears gossip and rumors will have a place to go. I know as you are reading this you are probably feeling a sense of curiosity, wondering what the rumor was that was told on me in Middle School. Of course I'm not going to share that, but it certainly wasn't true and it was foolish. It didn't fool any of my friends that knew me better, but it did cause me a lot of distress. It is our sin nature that hungers to hear gossip and rumors, and our ears are like dry grass before a fire.
Verse 8 tells us that no man can tame the tongue. This doesn't mean it is impossible, but it does mean we need God's help, for what James is saying is that we can't do it alone. The verse goes on to say that our tongue is an unruly evil and full of deadly poison. If the tongue is full of deadly poison then undoubtedly our words can be like poisonous darts being thrown at others if we are not careful.
James 3:9-12 says,
Verses 9 through 12 indicate that there is something we can do about it. First of all we can take some practical measures. We can simply shut our mouths and say less. We can think about what we are going to say.
Proverbs 10:19 says,
We must realize too that our tongue as verse 8 describes is "an unruly evil" and this is because of our evil sin nature. Even if you have been Born Again, you still have a sin nature. The bible also refers to this sometimes as the old man, the old nature, or the flesh.
Matthew 15:18 says,
Also, the words that come out of our mouth may be an indicator of another bigger problem - what is in our heart! The words you speak only reveal the condition of your heart. Your heart has to change. But only God can change your heart. For example, if you are always speaking down on somebody when they buy something nice, then you may have a heart full of jealousy. If you are always saying something vulgar, then you may have a heart that is impure. A boasting tongue may reveal an arrogant heart. The good news is there is hope.
Ezekiel 36:26 says,
If you ask God then He will help you, but it will require some work on your part as well. What we take in is up to us. We can watch movies, read books, listen to music with profane lyrics, and hang around people who can influence us that are not pleasing to God, If we humble our self, and are honest with God, and are willing to change, then God will always do His part, for He is always faithful. God wants to give you a new heart, a heart like Jesus, that reveals God's kindness to others.
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!
The point here isn't that perfect people exist, for verse 2 tells us that "we all stumble." Instead James is making a point here that if a person can control their tongue (words), then the rest of the body would be a piece of cake in comparison. James goes on in verse 4 to compare the tongue (our words) to the rudder of a mighty ship. Is this not true in our everyday life? If you went to a job interview and spoke the right words you would get the job, but if you spoke rudely, arrogantly, or timidly, and saying the wrong things, then you wouldn't be as likely to get it.
Many a marriage has crashed and burned because of words. Little subtle words of discouragement back and forth over a long period of time is like taking small doses of arsenic until inevitably the marriage dies.
Parents, teachers, other adults, and our peers can say something and the child will often carry those words into their adult life and it becomes a part of them. Last night my wife and I watched a movie about the life of Celine Dion. Celine of course has a beautiful and powerful singing voice, yet as a child the other children made fun of her for having crooked teeth. Her older siblings told her she was a mistake. Even her record producer made an off handed remark saying, "although she's not the prettiest girl, she sure can sing" and Celine overheard these words. Of course she is actually a pretty woman and she went on to be a huge success in her music career, but she had these hurdles to overcome and it wasn't an easy task for her. Throughout her life she has carried a sense of inferiority and low self esteem, and this is even with millions of adoring fans and sold out shows.
James 3:6-8 says,
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.
When I read verse 6 describing the tongue as a fire rumors and gossip comes to my mind. Just as fire spreads out and devours everything in it's path, words of rumor and gossip will do the same thing. I remember once in middle school a boy who liked the same girl I did started a rumor on me that wasn't true. Throughout the day I was being asked about it and sometimes taunted by other kids. I had to ask each person where they heard it and it kept tracing back to the same person. It wasn't long before I figured out who started the fire. If you strike a match and throw it in a field you can usually tell where the starting point was just by looking near the center of the burned area, for fire spreads out. Similarly, a trained fire fighter can trace back and usually find the place that the fire started. The same is true with rumors and gossip. It isn't hard to trace back to the person who started it.
As long as there is dry material fire will have a place to go, and as long as there are hungry ears gossip and rumors will have a place to go. I know as you are reading this you are probably feeling a sense of curiosity, wondering what the rumor was that was told on me in Middle School. Of course I'm not going to share that, but it certainly wasn't true and it was foolish. It didn't fool any of my friends that knew me better, but it did cause me a lot of distress. It is our sin nature that hungers to hear gossip and rumors, and our ears are like dry grass before a fire.
Verse 8 tells us that no man can tame the tongue. This doesn't mean it is impossible, but it does mean we need God's help, for what James is saying is that we can't do it alone. The verse goes on to say that our tongue is an unruly evil and full of deadly poison. If the tongue is full of deadly poison then undoubtedly our words can be like poisonous darts being thrown at others if we are not careful.
James 3:9-12 says,
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.
Verses 9 through 12 indicate that there is something we can do about it. First of all we can take some practical measures. We can simply shut our mouths and say less. We can think about what we are going to say.
Proverbs 10:19 says,
When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, But he who restrains his lips is wise.We can use wisdom by speaking less and thinking more. This requires having empathy for others and being mindful of them. I'm not as likely to say something that will offend the people around me if I'm thinking about them first. More than this we are to ask God for the right words to say and have a desire to see other peoples lives changed by His words. This way we are allowing God to use our tongue for His glory.
We must realize too that our tongue as verse 8 describes is "an unruly evil" and this is because of our evil sin nature. Even if you have been Born Again, you still have a sin nature. The bible also refers to this sometimes as the old man, the old nature, or the flesh.
Matthew 15:18 says,
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
Also, the words that come out of our mouth may be an indicator of another bigger problem - what is in our heart! The words you speak only reveal the condition of your heart. Your heart has to change. But only God can change your heart. For example, if you are always speaking down on somebody when they buy something nice, then you may have a heart full of jealousy. If you are always saying something vulgar, then you may have a heart that is impure. A boasting tongue may reveal an arrogant heart. The good news is there is hope.
Ezekiel 36:26 says,
I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.
If you ask God then He will help you, but it will require some work on your part as well. What we take in is up to us. We can watch movies, read books, listen to music with profane lyrics, and hang around people who can influence us that are not pleasing to God, If we humble our self, and are honest with God, and are willing to change, then God will always do His part, for He is always faithful. God wants to give you a new heart, a heart like Jesus, that reveals God's kindness to others.
