“Taming the
Tongue” (James 3:1-12)
1.
Please pray with
me. May the words of my mouth and the
meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our rock and our
redeemer. Amen. In the message from God’s Word we’re
going to be looking at what James the apostle writes in James 3:1-12. We’ll see that we as sinful human beings are
guilty of using our tongues in ways that hurt God, our neighbor and even
ourselves. But, Christ Jesus our Lord
used His speech perfectly on our behalf so that through His words and actions
we’re saved! When we are Created New
in Christ, which is your theme for this school year, even our speech
changes. The message is entitled, “Taming the Tongue,” dear brothers and
sisters in Christ.
2.
He walks
confidently into the cage. Nervous lions
and tigers are on stools watching him, now and then roaring or moving their
paws at him. Then when the
lion tamer seems to lose control, he cracks his whip and the beasts settle back
or perform tricks on command. One of the most important things we need
to learn as Christians is to recognize situations in which you and I need to
crack the whip, and keep that untamed tongue of ours under control. Take these illustrations into consideration. One of your friends comes up and says out
of breath, “Did you hear about Sally
Price? I understand she…” You open your mouth, about to tell what
you’ve heard—and it’s whip-cracking time!
Gossip is a definite no-no. Or
what about this? You and your lab
partner in the science classroom are working on a project. You ask your lab partner to do something for
you. You know he’s trying to help, but
this is the umpteenth time he’s gotten it wrong. You feel yourself getting angry and open your
mouth—when you realize it’s whip-cracking time.
You smile, glad that you’ve got a fellow classmate who’s willing to at
least try and help you out, even though he may not be as good at chemistry or
biology as you are.
3.
These are just a
few of the situations where that untamed tongue is likely to carry us away
before we even think! Learning to tame
our tongue is vital for our growth toward Christian maturity. That’s why James the apostle writes in
James 3:1-8,
“1 Not many of you should
become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged
with greater strictness. 2For we all stumble in many ways, and if
anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to
bridle his whole body. 3If we put bits into the mouths of horses so
that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4Look at the
ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are
guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5So
also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a
small fire! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.
The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire
the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7For every kind
of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed
by mankind, 8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a
restless evil, full of deadly poison.”
4.
James was a
great teacher of the faith. He teaches
us that we need to respect the mighty power of the words that we speak. “Talk
is cheap,” people
say. “Sticks
and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Not so, says James. Although the tongue is just a three inch
muscle and only partially visible, it’s very powerful. Like a tail that wags the dog, the tongue
drives our lives. James gives the
following examples of little things that have big effects. For example, a bit in a horse’s mouth is a little piece of steel, but when used
properly it can control a 2 thousand pound animal. A rudder
on a ship is a little shaped plank that’s mostly invisible below the water,
but it enables the captain of a ship to control the course of an immense
ship. Finally, a spark in a forest. Under
control, a spark can make a small fire to warm cold travelers and cook their
food. But, out of control, a spark can
cause an inferno that can reduce thousands of acres of mighty trees to
smoldering stumps.
5.
James thinks
that it’s urgent that people learn to control their mouths. Not only to avoid hurting other people. But, an uncontrolled tongue can also
turn on the uncontrolled talker, corrupting the whole person, poisoning his
mind and plunging the body into the dangers of the fires of hell. James reminds us that the tongue doesn’t
operate itself. It’s our brain that
controls the tongue. Here’s another
example of living out our Christian faith—people who claim to be believers must
not let their mouths get out of control.
Faith in our Savior Jesus welcomes the power of the Holy Spirit to bite
back lies, sarcasm, ridicule, gossip and praise for evil deeds. Faith uses the Spirits power to build up
other people, speak the truth, forgive and comfort. Faith also knows when to command the tongue
to be silent.
6.
James teaches us
that talk isn’t cheap and that words do wound. Words
can build up or destroy a person’s self confidence. Words can turn someone’s’ proud
achievement into humiliation. Words can
create and destroy a relationship. Words
can spread hate or love. Words can
spread truth or plant lies.
7.
That’s why James
continues in James 3:9-12,
“9With it we bless our Lord
and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10From
the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not
to be so. 11Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both
fresh and salt water? 12Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or
a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.” Again the apostle teaches us that
words are also God’s means to rescue people from hell. A sermon, a Bible study, a catechism lesson
or an evangelism visit over coffee all look tame and useless. But, God’s power to save people, to create
and sustain saving faith, takes place with the power of words.
8.
That’s why it’s
vitally important for all Christians, and especially for those who speak in the
church’s name, to let God’s Word control their words. People hate hypocrisy. Double minded Christians with forked
tongues, praising God cursing one another, drive people away from Jesus as
their Savior. James won’t let
Christians get comfortable with that.
Christ like minds and Christ like hearts direct the mouth to utter
Christ like words!
9.
Who can save us
from the poisonous words that we use to hurt our neighbor, our God and ourselves?
Have no fear, Jesus is here to do just that! Let no one ever tell you that words are
insignificant. Martin Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is Our God” mentions
Satan where Luther writes, “Rage we can
endure, For lo! His doom is sure, One little Word shall fell him.” And one Word has done just that. For it was through One Word that the course
of human history was changed. When Jesus
spoke the words, “It is finished” from
the cross we were freed from the tyranny of the devil, the world and our sinful
nature. And those words, “It is finished” were one word in the
Greek. The word “tetelestai.”
10.
James makes
clear to us that we as human beings have no way of taming our tongues. It’s
for this reason that no matter how hard we try we can’t save ourselves. That’s why only Jesus Christ our Lord
spoke no evil. The charges of
blasphemy were false when Jesus stood on trial before the Sanhedrin in Matthew
27. There was no guile in Him as 1
Peter 2 tells us. And finally, Jesus was
hanged on a tree for our sins. The
truth of the matter is that we as human beings would destroy ourselves were it
not for the grace and forgiveness we’re given in Jesus Christ our Lord. Only the cross on which Christ suffered
and died permits us to tame our tongues.
Knowing that God for Jesus’ sake forgives penitent sinners gives us
comfort since we know God will forgive us when we come to Him in repentance for
the troubles our tongues have caused.
11.
So what does
James teach us here in James 3? That there are
only two ways to live by, the wisdom of
the world or by God’s wisdom. James condemns
the worldly pattern of selfishness, deception and hurtful words. We as Christians struggle with such sins and
are even tempted to present ourselves as holier than others. But how different is the wisdom of God. He’s purified us in Jesus and freed us from
the stain of the world. We now walk in
the works He has prepared for us to do. Please
pray with me: O Lord, purify me so that my words may uplift, strengthen, bring peace
where there is strife and bring sincerity where there is falsehood. Use my lips to speak your glory, to tell of
Your wonderful deeds and to proclaim Your salvation in Jesus. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment