The Tongue, or Something's Wrong Here

James 3:2-13

2 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.

3 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

4 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.

5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

6 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.

7 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:

8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

13 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. (KJV)

Pretty strong words we have here, don’t we. Friends, brothers and sisters in Christ, is your tongue forked as the Indians would put it when dealing with the white man 2 centuries ago? Course the American Indians who saw white people dealing with them with a "forked tongue" were seeing how whites would say one thing to them and then do another. But this idea of a forked tongue fits also what James deals with when it comes to having an tongue that speaks both sweet and bitter things.

In verse 2 James is saying, In many ways we stumble (the Greek means to sin, err, stumble and offend) and anyone who does not stumble in what he says is perfect or complete. The Greek word for the KJV word perfect here is:

5046 teleios (tel'-i-os);

from 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:

KJV-- of full age, man, perfect.

Then James continues in the next 2 verses with comparisons. The bit in a horse’s mouth and the rudder of a ship. Here he is pointing out that the two guide the item-such as the horse or boat in the direction they are to go. And in verse 5 he points out that the tongue as small as it is can boast of great things. And it can even kindle a fire. Now you and I both know the fire James is talking about is not literal fire, but figurative. Stop and think now what has just happened. The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals located in San Francisco has declared that saying the pledge of allegiance is unconstitutional because it includes the statement "under God." The tongue of these judges has already set off a reaction, thank God against that decision. Let’s get this tongue issue closer to home now.

How many reactions have you set off by things you have said to your family members, to friends, even to strangers.? James tells us the tongue is a fire. It is full of sin, and it defiles our whole body. What we say, James is telling us, is that our speech affects others. Even though James does not quote the following verse from Proverbs, he is making the same point.

Prov 18:21

21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.(KJV)

Do you realize how important it is to watch what you say to others? Do you realize you can do all kinds of damage to others just by the words you choose, or the careless offhand comments you may make to someone. Children have been scarred by comments made to them by their parents. Husbands and wives have had their lives and marriages damaged and sometimes ruined by the comments they have made to each other, or the accusations they have made to each other. Kids in school have had their lives damaged by careless speaking teachers. How? These kids look up to the teachers as really knowing what they are talking about so accept what their teachers say as gospel and when a careless teacher makes a comment like, "You will never make it." the kid is going to believe it and give up trying. How many of you have been hurt by things friends, family, teachers, leaders of various kinds? You were hurt by what they said. A bunch of you were angered by what they said because of the hurt. What about teasing? Look at the next verses below:

Prov 26:19

19 So is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, "Was I not joking?"(NAS) {yes, this does apply to teasing}

Prov 26:22

22 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.(KJV)

Those are just some examples. Here are some verses you can look up on the tongue in Proverbs. Proverbs 6:17,24; 10:20,31; 12:18,19; 15:2,4; 16:1; 17:4, 18:21; 21:6,23; 25:15,23; 26:28; 28:23, 31:26

James continues to explain that animals of all kinds have been tamed, but the tongue of man can’t be. He states that it is unruly and full of deadly poison. And there are too many people who will bless at one time and curse at another. You may think you have never been guilty of cursing someone. But you would be surprised to learn that you have. When? Whenever you have condemned someone for what they did, whenever you have spoken in judgment about someone, whenever you have demeaned them and made accusations -just like the accuser of the brethren. You see your words can bring life to a person or situation or it can bring death. Words do have power. The God of the universe revealed that right off by saying "Let there be…". He spoke and it came into being. There are some pagan groups through out the world who recognize that the tongue has power to bring things into being. Why is it that Christians ignore this truth. Jeremiah was told to prophecy and that his words would bring down kingdoms.

Jer 1:9-10

9 Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth.

10 See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.(KJV)

Your words and mine, folks, have the power to do great and mighty as well as awful things. How many of you have (when angered) said things you regretted later on? How many of you have wounded those you love because of anger? And have you been wounded that way?

Do you see the seriousness of James’ comment when he says it is wrong for us to bless God, yet curse men. It shouldn’t happen. See James recognized that people -the Christians that he wrote-had that kind of problem. That that kind of behaviour was wrong. And he goes deeper into the cause. The cause of the problem is there is something wrong with the fountain. Have you ever drunk salt water? More likely you have stuck to drinking sweet water. Yet, James says, it seems both kinds of water are coming from the fountain. How can that be possible? Literal fountains or springs don’t do that. Why human ones? Then he points out that olive trees don’t bear figs, they bear olives. Nor do fresh water springs give out salt water. Know where the problem is, don’t you? It is in the heart. For Jesus did say out of the heart come the issues of life.

So James then says

James 3:13

13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.(NAS)

James says, whoever among you who is wise and understanding, show by your good behaviour (that includes the speech) your deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

James has a lot more to say here so next week, I will continue on the subject of the tongue. In the meanwhile, is there an area in your life where you need to repent of how you use your tongue? Do you have difficulty controlling your tongue? If so, there is something wrong in your heart and thinking that needs to be made right with God. Or there is a habit that has to be broken and remade. One verse of scripture that will help you if you make it a active daily practice,

2 Cor 10:5

5 casting down imaginations, and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God, and bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ;(ASV)

and one last verse to use daily,

Phil 4:8

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.(KJV)

Put those two verses into action daily, and you will find God curing you of wrong speaking. May God bless you as you seek to live with a pure heart before Him. The Good News Lady