James 3
New King James Version (NKJV)
The Untamable Tongue
3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Indeed,[a] we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.[b]
A kindergarten student told his teacher he'd found a cat, but it was dead. "How do you know that the cat was dead?" she asked her student. "Because I pissed in its ear and it didn't move," answered the child innocently. "You did WHAT?!?!?!" the teacher yelled in shock. "You know," explained the boy, "I leaned over and went 'Pssst!' and it didn't move."
A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, and Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. "If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, 'Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.'" Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, "Ryan, you be Jesus.
When I was six months pregnant with my third child, my three year old came into the room when I was just getting ready to get into the shower. She said, "Mommy, you are getting fat!" I replied, "Yes, honey, remember Mommy has a baby growing in her tummy." "I know," she replied, but what's growing in your butt?"
A father was reading Bible stories to his young son. He read, "The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and was turned to salt." His son asked, "What happened to the flea?"
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can also hurt me.
Stones and sticks break only skin, while words are ghosts that haunt me.
Slant and curved the word-swords fall, it pierces and sticks inside me.
Bats and bricks may ache through bones, but words can mortify me.
Pain from words has left its' scar, on mind and hear that's tender.
Cuts and bruises not have healed, it's words that I remember.
How many times have we said something that we wish we could take it back? For me, to many times to count! Words are powerful, both good and negative. Power of speech is our most powerful gift. We should be quick to listen, slow to react.Some of the best advice ever, from the letter of James, chapter 1:
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.
James compares controlled speech with a bit, a rudder, fire, poison, a spring, and a fig tree.
Bit - assists a rider in communicating with the animal.
Rudder - a device used to steer a ship.
Fire - has the potential to cause physical damage.
Poison - also referred to as a toxin; to describe any harmful substance.
Spring - source of fresh and clean water.
Fig tree - A tree that produces a fruit (figs). Interesting, read here; Cursing of the Fig Tree.
Proverbs 15:1 (NKJV)
A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:2 (NKJV)
The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
Proverbs 15:4 (NKJV)
A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Matthew 12:37 (NKJV)
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Overcome forceful nature - 40% of our sin comes from our tongue.
Submit our mouths to God. Words can destroy by tearing down confidence, negatively affects reputations and a persons character. Words can kill relationships.
Seasons of Salt
Colossians 4:6 (NKJV)
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Proverbs 10:11 (NKJV)
The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, But violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 18:21 (NKJV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Failing to say what we should say; Please and thank you.
- I'm Sorry - I was wrong.
- I'm praying for you.
- Simple
- Humble
- Changes lives!
Crossroads Church of Denver
