The Tongue

James 3:5a “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things…”

I am the first to admit how outspoken I can be. Many times I have spoken my mind and at times haven’t meant to. It seems I always say, “oops didn’t mean to say that.” The tongue is a very important part of our body. It helps up eat (preventing food from going right down our throat), we can taste things, and it helps us speak. But the tongue can also be something that can get one into trouble.

Growing up my mother always told me to “think before I speak” and many times I have just spoken my mind and regretted it. James warns of the tongue and tells the Christian to control what we say.

James uses three illustrations with the tongue:

• Horses bridle: very small and helps guide and CONTROL the horse
• Ship’s Rudder” very small and helps GUIDE and CONTROL the ship.

Just like the horse’s bridle and the ship’s rudder both being small and both controlling something big I need to make sure I control my tongue. I need to make sure that my tongue {words} please the Lord.

The third illustration that James uses is fire. A fire starts as a spark and can grow bigger and bigger. How is this applicable in our life?

1. I need to make sure I am not spreading rumors and gossiping
2. I need to make sure I am telling the truth
3. I need to make sure I am not boasting

(vs 7-10)

Man has tamed many animals. I think of the dolphins and whales at Sea World and watch how tame they are…I mean look at all the tricks they can do its AMAZING! Although animals can be tamed the tongue cannot—but the tongue can be controlled. To control the tongue one must ask for wisdom to be careful what to say and to speak S-L-O-W-L-Y (or think before you say something.)

(vs 10-12)

Am I careful what I say. Do I say one nice thing then turn around and say something mean---or something that does not please the Lord? James warns of  “blessing and cursing” coming out of the mouth. This should not be so---I need to make sure that only blessings comes out of my mouth. Two illustrations are used

• a fountain with sweet and bitter water cannot be so. Both kinds cannot come out of the fountain. My words need to be like sweet water.
• A fig tree cannot bear olive berries. Therefore I need to make sure that only one thing (blessings and sweet words) come out of my mouth.

(vs 13-18)

I need to make sure my heart is right when I speak wisdom. I can say the right things but if I am not believing it in my heart or saying one thing and doing another it is a sin. I need to make sure that I say and live and do. I need to make sure that I pray before saying things---and that my words are TRUE. The wisdom from God is “pure, peacable, gentle, and full of mercy, not partial, and not hypocritical.”

May I live my life in this way and make sure everything I saw is wise and pleases the Lord.