In our previous message we started to discuss James 1:1-12 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=james%203:1-12&version=NIV1984 and here we find a few keys.
It is interesting that James addressed the teachers, for those who presume to teach are to be extra careful of what they say for they can mislead people very easily and put them on a wrong course. Opinionated people are essentially also ‘teachers’ and they need to be very careful to ensure that their opinion is founded on reliable sources. James mentioned that “the tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell,” (verse 6). It is interesting that he approached this passage from a negative perspective. The reason he did it is because the nature of man is sin. The sinful nature does not need encouragement to act. Good news will simply never spread as fast as gossip or bad news. How much good news do we actually hear in the news?
Therefore we need to make sure what the intention of our words is, which is why we read in James 1:19 that “everyone should be quick to listen (also to the Holy Spirit) and slow to speak”. Think about what you are going to say. What would the consequences of your words be? What do you want to accomplish by what you say? How would the other person feel when you say it? We can for instance have the most wonderful intentions, but the time and place may be wrong and the person may not be ready to receive it. If someone’s emotions are still raw after the death of a loved one or a break in a relationship, words may bring more damage than good if not well chosen. Satan is very subtle, which is why James mentioned that the tongue is set on fire in hell, for if we do not act very carefully by the Holy Spirit’s wisdom, our words may seem good, but it may bring a lot of damage.
Paul told the Galatians: “Live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature,” (Galatians 5:16). To lose control of our tongue is living by the sinful nature, for an uncontrolled tongue will seek to satisfy self at the cost of others. If we live by the Spirit the Holy Spirit will warn us when we are about to say the wrong thing and will give us the right thing to say when we need it. Saying damaging things comes naturally, whilst avoiding the damage that the tongue would do takes a conscious effort of thinking and listening for wisdom.
James talks in verses three to seven about controlling horses and ships and taming animals and then states in verse eight: “but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” He is right; no man can tame the tongue - we only need to look at how the world acts in backstabbing one other and smearing each other’s names. The media also is a good example of the power of the tongue. The only way we can control or tame the tongue is by the Spirit. If we grasp what James said in verses nine to twelve and have an understanding of how the Lord feels about our use of the tongue, we will be encouraged to take care to watch our tongue: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and bitter water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
A good standard to set for ourselves can be found in Philippians 4:8: “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Lord, help me to walk by the Spirit in the use of my tongue.
Thank you Lord that your Word went out from your mouth, via your servant’s pen, and it will not return to you empty, but will accomplish what you desire and achieve the purpose for which you sent it.
Please pass this on if you think others may benefit by it.
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