James 3
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
(Jas 3:1-18)
I am an unashamed fan of Tolkiens trilogy The lord of The Rings, and at one point on the journey to Mordor, Boromir picks up the ring, and marvels that such a little thing should cause so much fear and evil, and problems. Little things can make such a difference to a persons life, a kind word, a thoughtful gesture, or a forgotten anniversary or a word out of place. To us they are all just little things, yet they stab deeper into the heart and soul and mind of a person, than we will ever know. There is a well known saying, that no man is an Island, well James here is saying that we need to bridle the tongue and control it. Paul tells us in Romans 10:10 ?For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.? Jesus tells us in (Mat 21:21) ?Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.? Words are powerful and yet even amongst us Christians we ?let loose? we ?lose our cool? and we fly off with hurtful and rude comments, never realising the damage that we cause when do so. We need to learn to be wise serpents and harmless as doves (Matthew 10:16), a little member the tongue may be, but it is the one member that is most important (after the heart when we have faith) for it is this member where we prove and show our salvation. Jesus said let your yea be yea and your nay be nay anything more than these cometh of evil, and it is so true, for we may profess out our mouths at one point that we are a Christian, but the minute four letter words exit our mouths or we are hurtful we show ourselves to be no different to the world ? and they end up saying well you?re no better than we why should we listen to you?!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and in James 1 we are told that if any man lack wisdom he is to ask the Father for it ? why? Because wisdom comes from on high, Proverbs chapter 8 is the story of wisdom (Some apply this chapter to Jesus, for good reason), yet it remains that wisdom is a blessing from God and we are not to seek the worlds ?wisdom? for they have knowledge, but not discernment with that knowledge, and certainly no fear of God ? thereby showing that although they think they have wisdom they really do not. Our tongues only say that which is in the heart, so if you have envying or strife, or bitterness coming out of your mouth, fly to God and confess it at His throne, for as John says in 1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Paul tells us in Hebrews that ?For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.?
(Heb 4:15) He will help us if we are truly surrendered that He can work in us and through us to change us. We must die to self daily and allow the grace and peace of God to flow from our tongues??..
Let God cleanse your tongue and your heart, and as Paul says Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
(Heb 12:2)
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