Faithful Living - Studies from the Book of James
"Don’t get Hung by the Tongue" James 3:1-12
Introduction Thus far in his epistle James exhorts the Christian to
be Patient in times of Trouble, and to Practise the Truth at all times. In chapter
three, he is urging the control of the tongue. He is saying to every believer
"Don’t get Hung by your tongue".
It was Thomas Brooks who said—"We
know metals by their tinkling and men by their talking".
James would have agreed with this
statement, for no less than six times in this epistle, he deals with the
tongue. What comes out of our mouths is so vitally important. One of the
greatest dangers that we, as Christians face, is the wrongful use of our
tongue.
When a doctor examines a patient, he will
often ask him to stick out his tongue. This is helpful in diagnosing the
illness. Spiritually, the tongue test is also valid, for what we say is very
revealing of where we’re at in our walk with the Lord.
Have you ever been hung by your tongue? Sometimes our tongues can get us into a lot of
trouble.
Illustration It was a young man’s first day working in the fruit and
vegetable department of a super market. A lady came up to him and said, " I want to buy half of a head of lettuce". He
tried to put her off by explaining that they only sold whole lettuce.
But she persisted. Finally he said,
"I’ll have to go and talk to the manager." He went to the rear of the
store, not noticing that the woman was walking right behind him. When he got
into the back of the store, he said to the manager, "There’s a silly old
woman out there who wants to buy half a head of lettuce.
What should I tell her?" Seeing the
horrified look on the face of the manager, he turned about and, seeing the
woman, he then added, "And this nice lady wants to buy the other half of
the head of lettuce. Will that be all right?" Relieved, the manager said,
"yes that will be fine".
How often it is our tongue
that can get us into all kinds of trouble.
Having just dealt with the relationship of
Faith and Works, James now moves on to deal with the relationship of Faith and
words. Our words reveal what is in our heart. James is writing to those who are
having serious problems with their tongues.
In chapter 1-- he warns James 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren,
let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
James 1:26 If any man among you seem to
be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this
man's religion is vain.
In chapter 2, James has warned the
believer to speak and act as though they were already facing Christ in
judgement.
James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that
shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Words are very powerful. How many children
have heard their parents say, " you are useless
and you will never amount to anything"?
The children believe these words and allow
these words to shape their lives. Words have a tremendous power for good or
bad.
1. A
Pointed Exhortation
verse 1
James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters,
knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
The word masters means "teachers"
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, those who have the responsibility
of instructing others.
Teacher is a special office in the
A particular danger, confronting teachers
in their ministry, is one of speech. Controlling what we say is the most
difficult thing we have to do. This problem faces all believers, but is
especially crucial for teachers.
In the Church because of the prominence
and importance of the teacher, some have the desire to be recognized as
teachers, without considering carefully the seriousness of the responsibility
involved.
The reason for being careful about
becoming a teacher is "we shall incur a stricter judgment." James
includes himself here as a teacher.
The judgment referred to here is the
Judgment Seat (bema) of Christ. All believers will give an account before
Christ of their service for Him in this life
Though all believers must appear before
this Judgment Seat to be evaluated by Christ, teachers will be judged more
severely. Increased responsibility and influence mean greater accountability on
their part.
The word "stricter") indicates
there will be degrees of judgment at this Judgment Seat. (Amp) Teachers will
be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity than other people.
Being a teacher is the most important
responsibility in the church. Three things must be true of a believer who
desire to be a teacher:
1.Know the Truth - If
a person does not have a thorough knowledge of the Word of God, he obviously
will not be able to teach others.
2. Live the Truth - This has been the thrust of James. Godliness is to
characterize all believers, but this must be especially true of the leaders.
3. Teach the Truth - This would seem to be obvious but it is sadly lacking today.
Unbelieving teachers present their
traditions. And even among believers there is a dearth of sound Bible teaching.
Many prefer to be entertained rather than edified.
Unbelievers need to hear the glorious
message of the gospel so that they can believe and be saved. Believers need to
be nourished on a healthy diet of pure teaching so that they can grow in their
new life in Christ.
Even as believers we are guilty of ignoring
the clear teaching of God's Word. Teachers are guilty of trying to please the
people in their teaching.
There are People who have neither the gift
nor calling from God, but have a carnal ambition of seeking to be teachers.
This happened in the Jewish synagogues. Jesus condemned those who were doing
their works to be seen of men, and loved the best places at the feasts, and
took pride, when called by men, Rabbi.
They loved to be seen and heard! This
carnal ambition had been carried into the infant Church. Paul warned Timothy of
such men.
1 Tim 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law;
understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.
There are who love the limelight of the
pulpit on a Sunday, but are not ready for the long hours of study and self-denial
from Monday to Saturday. Thus, we have superficial teaching from the pulpit and
dearth and death in the pew.
Jesus said. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much
required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.
James gives a strong, clear reminder that
teachers must be very careful. They have greater responsibility and will have a
greater judgment before Christ.
Teachers must have a Balanced Ministry.
This calls for Biblical Correction—and not just continual Barren Criticism.
There must be Leadership but not Lordship over the flock of God. Teachers are
not to be "Hung by their Tongue.
1. A
Pointed Exhortation verse
1
2. A
Personal Confession
verse 2
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If
any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able
also to bridle the whole body.
The idea here is not that we offend
everyone to whom we minister; he is saying that all offend, including him, for
none of God’s children are perfect. ( Amp) For we all often stumble and fall
and offend in many things.
How true this is, for stumbling takes
place in many areas. Prov 20:9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin?
Eccl 7:20 For there is not a just man
upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
If I stumble over something that is lying
on the road, it is because I am careless and have not been looking where I was
going. If I stumble with the tongue, it is because I am careless and have lost
control of this little member.
Job confessed just how easy it was for him to sin with
the tongue when he said to the Lord
Behold, I am vile; what
shall I answer thee? I will lay mine hand upon my mouth.
Isaiah was a godly servant of Jehovah yet he had to confess, " I am undone for I am a man with unclean lips".
Moses was one of God’s greatest servants
and yet it is recorded of him in the book of Psalms "That
he spake unadvisedly with his lips".
Peter boasted, Lord all men may offend
Thee but I will never do that. Later he denied his Lord with cursing.
Someone once said, "We should remember that the tongue is in a wet
place, and we can slip easily.
Proverbs 21:23"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his
tongue, keepeth his soul from trouble."
Friends, we all need to confess that we
have sinned by the use of the tongue. The Bible refers to a
wicked tongue, a deceitful tongue, a lying tongue, a perverse tongue, a filthy
tongue, a corrupt tongue, a bitter tongue, an angry tongue, a crafty tongue, a
slanderous tongue, a gossiping tongue, a backbiting tongue, a blaspheming
tongue, a foolish tongue, a boasting tongue, a murmuring tongue, a complaining
tongue, a cursing tongue, a tale bearing tongue.
We are all guilty of sinning with the
tongue. Only our Lord is faultless "For He did no sin neither was guile
found in His mouth". Note what James is saying v 2
"If any man offend not in word, the same is
a perfect man, and also able to bridle the whole body."
If a man is spiritually mature, he can
control his tongue. If he cannot control his tongue, he is not spiritually
mature. Maturity is not that a person can pray wonderful prayers, or that they
are a leader in the church. Or a loving, generous person. The real test of
maturity is whether they can control the tongue.
Of course, James also writes, "The
tongue can no man tame." That doesn’t mean that the tongue is
untameable. It means it is untameable by man.
Only the Holy Spirit can tame a man’s
tongue. That is why James makes the control of the tongue the acid test of
maturity. If the Holy Spirit does not have control of a man’s tongue; He
probably doesn’t have control of much else.
J.N. Darby writes, the tongue [is] the most
ready index to the heart, the proof whether the new man is in action, whether
nature and self-will are under restraint."
Beloved, we are being conformed to the
image of Christ, but no believer is a finished product. The way we use our
tongue is a good indicator of how far we have progressed on the path to
maturity.
We need to make a personal confession because
we stumble in so many ways. The words of Paul--
Phil 3:12 Not as though I had already attained,
either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that
for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
But this one thing I do, forgetting
those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are
before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
1. A
Pointed Exhortation
verse 1
2. A
Personal Confession
verse 2
3. A Practical
Illustration. Verse
3- 6
James again seeks the use of illustrations
to drive his point home. He illustrates this point by comparing the controlled
tongue to a horse with a bit in its mouth.
James is telling us that something small
can steer something large. Compared to the size of a horse, a bit is relatively
small. When a rider wants the horse to stop or to turn to the left or to the
right, he pulls on the reins and the bit presses against the horse’s tongue,
enabling the rider to control the whole body of the horse.
A horse controlled by a bit can be of good
use, and an uncontrolled horse can do great damage. Interestingly enough, no
horse has ever bridled himself. No horse has ever put a bit into his own mouth.
So, too, we normally don’t bridle
ourselves. But, our master trainer seeks to control our speech with the bit of
God’s Word. How we ought also to
allow the bit of God’s Word to control, and bridle what we say, and how we say
it.
Psalm 39:1—". I will take heed to my ways,
that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle."
V 4 Gives us another example of a large
object being controlled by a small one.
James 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they
be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned
about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
Ships are large in size and driven by
strong winds (sailing ships), but a small rudder can direct them. The one who
controls the rudder determines the direction of the whole ship.
He can direct the ship wherever he wants
it to go. Both of these illustrations show the importance of control at the
right place.
Winds are necessary. A sailboat cannot get
anywhere without them. A boat without a rudder is at the mercy of the winds, it
has no direction and it will never make its destination. The implication in
these illustrations from James is
A Controlled Tongue has
Direction
An Uncontrolled Tongue
Destroys
The Strong winds are capable of causing
the sailing craft to crash on the rocks. Friends none of us is immune from the
storms of life. We need a rudder and the Master Pilot in control.
The winds blow to benefit us when Jesus is
in control. But, if there is an unruly tongue the Lord is not at the wheel, and
we are steering our own course.
The one who controls the rudder determines
the direction of the whole ship. He can direct the ship wherever he wants it to
go.
Our tongues direct our lives. They control
the direction in which we are travelling. And so, in a very real way, they
control our lives. That’s power! Our words have a tremendous impact both
on ourselves and on others.
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member,
and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!
The Tongue is so small, and yet it has so much potential. No wonder Solomon
said.
Prov 18:21 "The Tongue has the power of
life and death"
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a
world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the
whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of
hell.
An Uncontrolled Tongue Destroys A fire can
begin with a little spark and it soon can destroy a great forest or a whole
city. Fire can spread faster than we could ever imagine destroying millions of
pounds of property
The words that we speak can start fires.
How many people have had their reputations ruined by a careless word spoken?
How many have spoiled their own testimony by the words that proceeded from
their mouths. How many have destroyed a work for God by the things they have
said?.
In some Churches there have been members,
and those who were in office who could not control their tongue and the work
was destroyed or retarded for years. It would have been better to have moved
them out of the fellowship, so that the spirit of love and harmony could
flourish and God’s blessing would be restored.
Like a fire the tongue can heat things up.
A hot head and a hot heart can lead to a fiery tongue. There is danger when a
man throws his tongue into high gear before he gets his brain a-going.
Benjamin Franklin A slip of the foot you
may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. Learn to
hold your tongue. Five words cost Zacharias forty weeks' silence. Solomon who
wrote
Prov 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his
words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
David Prayed- I will guard my ways,
lest I sin with my tongue. I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle
An uncontrolled tongue can –Plot
destruction, Practise deceit destroy reputations and wreck churches.
Let us never forget
1. The Potential Of The Tongue. (v. 5-6a) Being
such a little member, James informs us to not let its size fool you, for it can
do great things.
2. The Penetration of the
Tongue v 6"..Setteth on
fire the course. of nature."
John
Calvin: "The vice
of the tongue spreads and prevails over every part of life. It is as
active and potent for evil in old age as it ever was in the days of youth. The
tongue can destroy a person’s entire life".
3.The Power of the Tongue … and is set on fire in hell."
An uncontrolled tongue becomes a tool of
the devil. It becomes an instrument which he uses for accomplishing his
purposes James is saying that the fire that is started with the tongue has hell
as its power source.
4. The Passion of the Tongue.
(v. 7-8a)
James illustrates the tongue as having
fierce passion. He informs us that man has been able to tame all sorts of
animals; yet, the one thing that he hasn’t been able to tame is the tongue.
James likens an uncontrolled, or untamed tongue to a demon possessed man. It is
untamed, uncontrollable, and unruly.
5. The Poison of the Tongue (v.
8b) full of deadly poison
James compares the untamed tongue to a
serpent’s bite. Just as the bite of a snake can inject poison into our system,
and pose a great danger to us, so a loosed tongue can inject poison of deceit,
lies, and rumours?
How controlled is our tongue?
Someone has said that if your mind should
go blank, don’t forget to turn off the sound. We do that when we close our
mouths
Ask God to help you guard what you say.
David Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard over my mouth,
O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips."
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed
out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may
minister grace unto the hearers.
Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,
whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and
anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
Eph 4:32 And be ye kind one to another,
tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath
forgiven you.
1. The Potential Of The Tongue. 2. The
Penetration of the Tongue
3.The Power of the Tongue 4. The Passion of
the Tongue 5. The Poison of the Tongue
6.The Persuasion of the
Tongue.
The tongue has great influence others are
listening to what we Christians say.
Illustration The story is told of the minister who was making a
wooden trellis to support a climbing vine. As he was hammering away, he noticed
that a little boy was watching him. The boy didn’t say a word, so the preacher
kept on working, thinking the lad would leave. But he didn’t. Pleased at the
thought of his work was being admired, the pastor finally said,
"Well, son, trying to pick up some
pointers on gardening?"
"No," he replied. "I’m
just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a
hammer."
Prov 10:20 The tongue of the
just is as choice silver: the heart of the wicked is little worth.
When our hearts are right before God, our
tongues will consistently speak more of those things that encourage, build up,
and heal.
And when we do this, we will feel better about
ourselves and we will make a real difference in the lives of others.
May we say with the Psalmist?
"I will take heed to my
ways that I might not sin with my Tongue