Read:
James 3:1-12
When we are
saved we become new creatures but unfortunately we still carry around with us
our old sin nature which wars against the Spirit inside us. The tongue is one of the battlegrounds of
this war. James describes for us the
magnitude of the problem of the tongue using vivid illustrations to show us
just how serious the problem of the tongue can be. He begins by teaching us that there will
accountability for the words that we say by using the example of teachers (v.
1-2). James knows how easy it is to
stumble (v. 2). We are all prone to
sin! We must recognize the power of the
tongue for good or for evil.
James uses
two analogies in this passage: the bit and the rudder (3-5a). A bit
is small but when put into a horse’s mouth you can control the entire
horse. The same is true of a ship’s
rudder. Similarly the tongue is small
but can have a huge influence on your life. We must recognize the power of the tongue and
use it carefully. James then describes
the evil that can be done by the tongue by using the examples of a forest fire
and tamed animals (v. 5b-8). Under
control a fire is useful but when it burns out of control terrible things can
happen. In the same way, a tongue that
is out of control can cause terrible damage.
James says the untamed tongue “corrupts
the whole body” (v. 6) and even sets on fire the entire course of our lives.
James then uses
the example of taming an animal saying that no one can tame the tongue adding
that it is a “restless evil full of
deadly poison” (v. 8). James does
not say that the tongue is untameable; he only says no one can tame it. The tongue is humanly untameable but if you walk
daily in the Spirit, allowing the Holy Spirit to control your heart, then you
will produce the fruit of the Spirit instead of deadly poison! James concludes by telling about a common
inconsistency in believers – praising God with one breath and then immediately thereafter
saying evil things about another person (v. 9-12). The same spring does not produce fresh water
one minute and salt water the next.
Neither does a tree produce both figs and olives (v. 12).
Prayer and Journaling
1. Ask
the Lord to give you a word, thought or picture about the role that your tongue
plays in your spiritual journey and/or personal relationships? Are you bearing good fruit with your tongue
or is it holding you captive? Dialogue
with Jesus about this. Confess if necessary.
2. Ask
the Lord to remind you of a time where you have been hurt by someone’s
destructive words. Ask the Lord to bring healing into your life. If the hurt is quite large, consider booking
a personal ministry appointment to work through this with a trained
minister.
3. Pray
that you would grow in being a truth seeker, fighting against lies and always
seeking the good in situations. Pray
that you would use your tongue to show kindness and love and not bitterness,
unforgiveness or hate. Pray that you would
use your tongue to restore and not tear down.
Ask the Lord to give you the motivation to use your words to build up
and encourage, pray that you would be strengthened and motivated to obey God in
the area of your tongue.
