Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
The Epistle of James: A Blogged Bible Study
The study to date:
May 1: Study intro
May 8: James 1:1 Intro to the Epistle of James
May 15: James 1:2 – 18 Make Quality Decisions
May 22: James 1:19-27 Make Real Changes
May 29: James 2:1-13 Live the Law of Freedom
June 5: James 2:14 – 26 Demonstrate Real Faith
June 12: James 3: 1 - 12 Discipline the Tongue
Spotted on a T-shirt: 'Lord, please keep your arm around my shoulders and Your hand over my mouth'
By way of intro, remember James 1:26 -- Controlling the tongue is essential to the practice of one’s faith. As promised, James again takes up the topic of the words we use. This passage is often studied in context of negative things that are said, but it applies equally to good things that are not said, to sloppy speech patterns and poor judgment of when things should - and should not - be said.
I – Influence of the tongue (1 – 2)
At first, this looks like James will be instructing teachers, but in fact he uses the example of teacher to lead into a discussion of the tongue; a discussion of the words that come out of our mouths. Teachers are people who use their words specifically and intentionally to shape the thoughts and actions of other people, therefore they are judged more strictly in what they say because of the influence they wield. But all of us influence others to some degree by what we say, so we should all take the message to heart. What we say and how we say it has power beyond what we imagine.
The plain fact is that the level of discipline required to use the tongue in a proper manner is so great that the discipline required to control other aspects of life is easy in comparison. Because the tongue is a seemingly minor two-ounce muscle, we do not realize that it requires such a serious effort...or that it is so critical. It has the power to literally shapes lives, and disciplining it to be productive rather than destructive is critical. Once that discipline is achieved, James indicates that that individual is then completely mature.
II – Power of the tongue (verses 3-8)
Lest any of James' readers question the importance he give to the matter, he gives examples from common life...the bit in a horse's mouth, the rudder of a ship, a tiny spark...that, although they are very small, almost insignificant things, they can control something large or initiate catastrophic events.
Words can set into motion events that have unbelievable results. Words can cause wounds that go deep and cripple. The right word at the right time can sometimes turn the tide in a crisis, restore a broken relationship, or give enough hope to a hopeless one for them to begin making positive life choices. However, the tongue’s power is more often used by humans for evil than for good, and that evil is deeper, darker, and more destructive than we acknowledge.
How many things do you wish you could go back and not do versus how many things do you wish you could go back and not say? There have been times in my life...some of which I've discussed here in the way-too recent past...that I have had to use Desenex as toothpaste because I’ve had my foot in my mouth! James points out that men have tamed all kinds of creatures, but no man can tame the tongue (In the Greek, verse 8 reads, 'But the tongue no one to tame is able of men'). Once an animal is truly tamed (as opposed to merely trained), its nature is changed. The tongue, however, is not tamable...only constant discipline will keep our speech from degenerating into self-serving patterns once again.
That is an important reminder of how much we need the grace of God! Pure human effort ultimately fails...only grace can give us the ability to mature in this area; as Col 4:6 exhorts us to Let your conversation be always full of grace. The great effort of discipline is not to exert self-control over our conversation; self-control is woefully inadequate. No, it is to constantly remain submitted to God in the area of speech.
III – Fickleness of the tongue (verses 9 – 12)
It goes against nature for any one source to give rise to contradicting products. A well does not produce good and bad water, neither do trees bear diverse kinds of fruit. Yet it is ridiculously easy for contradictory, hypocritical words to come out of our mouths. James plainly says that we should not bless God, then curse people.
Note that ‘curse’ doesn’t just mean to use bad language – it can also mean to speak negatively of or to complain about. Many Christians who would never, ever give voice to obscene or profane language do not have any reluctance in declaring negative proclamations over those who have crossed them. My Brothers, James says, This should not be. (v. 10)
Controlling the tongue is a matter of submitting to the discipline of the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to guide what you say, to whom you say it, when you say it, how you say it. It is honestly assessing your true motives – WHY do you feel a need to say it? Ultimately, it is saying the right things when they should be said and how they should be said as well as not saying the wrong things at any time.
In Luke 6:45, Jesus tells us that, 'Good people do good things because of the good in their hearts. Bad people do bad things because of the evil in their hearts. Your words show what is in your heart.' (CEV -- emphasis mine)
Things to think about: We may not all be teachers, but we do all teach someone, even if we’re not necessarily aware of it. To whom is your life an example, and what are you teaching? How does your daily conversation truly reflect your faith?
Assignment: Pay attention this week to what comes out of your mouth. How much do you complain, voice negative expectations, gossip, express judgment...or hold back on paying a compliment, speaking an encouraging word, or expressing thanks? Do you resist the urge to 'put someone in their place', 'give a piece of your mind' or 'stand up for your rights'? Do you exaggerate or fudge the truth?
What does your observation reveal about the way you use your words?
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