(Read James 3)
How many of us would like to take back what we said last month? How about in the last week? The last 24 hours? How about 10 seconds ago? Sometimes things slip out even when we don’t intend to be mean or condescending, but most of the time we consciously decide to make that wisecrack, criticism, or insult.
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
James 1:14
The Book of “James” was traditionally attributed to James, who is believed to be James, a prominent figure in the early Christian church and likely the brother of Jesus Christ. James focused heavily on practical application and Christian living, addressing faith in action, such as controlling one’s speech, showing mercy to others, seeking wisdom, and avoiding favoritism. Despite being a short epistle with 108 verses, the letter is packed with practical guidelines for our daily lives, emphasizing the importance of living out one’s faith in Christ-centered and visible ways.
Every person I know has fallen into the, “Darn, I wish I hadn’t said that!” trap. Even my darling little 3-year-old granddaughter has made hurtful remarks when something conflicted with her me-first wishlist. Hey, we’ve all done it and still do it! We often fall short when our inner desires aren’t being met or diverted, and we must let someone know about it.
Two good friends recently shared their take on a Bible study they just completed on James. We sat in the sunshine, talking at length about what they learned from the Epistle and about themselves. I’ve known both of them for more than four decades, and I can honestly say that I have witnessed occasions when their tongues were flying without regard for the consequences.
For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
James 3:2-5
One of my buddies reminded us of the small rudder we used when sailing our Sunfish sailboats when we were younger. The rudder of a sailboat is a key component of its steering system. Located at the stern (back) of the boat, it is responsible for controlling the boat’s direction by deflecting the flow of water, allowing the sailor to navigate and control the vessel’s direction.
James acknowledged the universal tendency of all people to stumble or make mistakes in various aspects of life, particularly highlighting the power and potential harm of our words. James suggests that if someone can effectively control their speech, they demonstrate a high level of maturity and self-control. He implied that mastery over our speech allows us to live and display more fruitful faith.
Without thinking or worrying about the effects of our speech, we inflict pain, doubt, and behavior unbecoming of a child of God on others, people we are commanded to love. James went on to point out the significance of speech and its ability to impact our actions and behavior. It’s interesting that a small rudder has such importance in steering a larger boat or ship in strong winds. Similarly our tongues, though seemingly insignificant, can guide the course of our lives. A combination of muscles, connective tissues, and other structures, our tongues play a crucial role in speech production. They are responsible for shaping sounds and movements that form different speech sounds and contribute to the clarity and intelligibility of our spoken language.
In verse 5, James wrote, “So also, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!”
There is so much potential danger and destructive power of the tongue. Just as a tiny spark can ignite a vast forest fire, our words, when used improperly or irresponsibly, can cause significant harm and have far-reaching consequences.
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
James 3:7-12
My wife’s sister lived with us for about a year and a half as she was going through a nasty separation from her husband. She was abused physically and emotionally by an alcoholic husband. The final straw came when he attacked her with a large kitchen knife, and luckily her daughter arrived at the scene. I love her so much; she’s always been another sister to me. But, at that time, I was so pumped up with religious pride and works that I felt it my duty to hammer her into an active relationship with Christ. I would invite her to church and ask her questions while paying no attention to her needs or cues. There was no notice of what she was feeling.
Had I paid more attention to controlling my speech, exercising wisdom, self-control, and restraint, I would have recognized the direct impact I was having on her life. It’s right and our duty to exalt God above everything, but we can’t praise Him one minute and be ignorant and careless with our speech in another.
James encouraged believers to be mindful of the influence and responsibility that comes with our words, emphasizing the need for humility, self-discipline, and the cultivation of a wise and edifying tongue. In doing so, we will exercise greater control over our lives and build up righteous relationships with others.
We all have different ways of attacking with our tongues. I’m the youngest of four with a severe inferiority complex growing up. To cope, I resort to sarcasm and self-deprecating humor – sometimes at the expense of others. Isolated quips, making double entendres, obtuse boasts, critiques, and outbursts all bring others down and us with it. The first thought that comes to mind after I wish I could retract a statement is that I need to look closer at my faith.
But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.
Matthew 15:18
I believe that the reason that the Gospels, Proverbs, Psalms, and several apostles, including James, directed us to tame our tongues is not a result of simply following a rule. As a parent who has more experience than their children, we want them to follow a smarter path. We don’t want them to suffer or to make stupid mistakes that hurt them, hurt others, and put barriers in relationships with us. Jesus makes this point evident in the Scripture above.
The Pharisees and scribes were religious leaders challenging Jesus’ teaching on clean and unclean foods. They believed that certain foods were unclean and that eating them would defile a person. Jesus, on the other hand, taught that it was not what a person ate that defiled them but what came out of their mouth. Explaining further, Jesus responded by saying that what comes out of a person’s mouth comes from the heart, which defiles them. Our words are a reflection of our inner thoughts and desires. If our hearts are pure, our words will be pure as well. But if our hearts are full of sin, our words will be sinful as well.
During our lakeside chat, I asked my friends what they do to try to control their tongues. One of my buddies said he pays more attention to how much he’s blabbering away. He said that it’s usually when he is flowing words like a water faucet, without really thinking, that he finds he’s more likely to say something hurtful that he regrets. My other friend said that he prays a lot at night and is reflective of the words he uses during the day. He also said that he tries to pause and be mindful of what he might be about to say.
I had a third-grade teacher who taught us to “think before we act and think before we speak.” That was a lifetime ago, and I always try to put that wisdom into my daily life. I try to do better by pausing, just keeping quiet if I’m concerned about not encouraging, supporting, or contributing to the love I feel for someone. As Jesus said, it’s deeper than that. What we say comes from the heart. So, my next thought is, “Why did I just think that even if I didn’t say it?” The good news is that it’s an exercise. The more I control my speech and examine my heart, the more I scrape junk out of my heart.
We all speak in tongues, from the time we learn to talk until we’re no longer able. If we follow James’ lead and be doers of the word, not just hearers (James 1:22), our faith should result in action and tangible expressions of love and obedience to our Creator, God.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3:17-18
Key Applications:
- Read James 3. Are we mindful of our words? Our words can build up or tear down, heal or hurt, and even lead to death. We should be mindful of the words we use, and we should always be careful about the impact they can have on others. Pray each day that we remember this impact.
- Seek wisdom from God. James said that wisdom comes from above and encourages us to ask God for wisdom. When we seek wisdom from God, we ask Him to help us use our words in a way that pleases Him and consequently builds up others. Pray for wisdom, read the Bible, and ask Godly people to pray for us and help us grow in wisdom.
Where else in your life can you live out the teachings of Christ? Look for next week’s Devotion.