James Post #8 – James 1:26, 27; 3:1-12

There are two verses remaining in James, Chapter 1 that I will address very briefly because I want us to jump to James, Chapter 3 where he digs deeply into the issue of our words, introduced in Chapter 1, verse 26.  This post will focus on Chapter 3, verses 1-12 where James talks with us about our words.  I like to call this passage “Watch Your Mouth”!  Please take a moment to pray for God’s insight for you in the scriptures we will share.  Then, read through James 1:26, 27 and James 3:1-12.  I know I skipped Chapter 2 but just hang in there and we’ll get back to it in a later post.  

26.  “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless”.

James offers a brief preview of his first topic in Chapter 3 with the first part of this verse.  He assails the idea that someone can consider themselves “religious” or Christ-like while their words mirror the world much more than the Savior.  He’s saying that we need to keep a “tight rein” on our tongue.  In other words, don’t let your tongue get out of control.  I.E. Coarse jokes, foul language, hurtful words, slander, gossip, back biting, unwholesome words.  If you don’t “keep a tight rein on [your] tongue” you “deceive yourself” and [your] religion is worthless.”  What good does it do to know what to do and then not do it? That would be like knowing CPR but standing by and doing nothing when someone around you has a heart attack or is in an accident and needs it.  It would be the same as having a musical talent but failing to use it in service to God in some way.  It could be shared through worship, Bible study or even home visits but if you keep it to yourself you are making it worthless.  God is not please when we hoard such gifts.  They are given to us to use, to share, to bless others with.   James made a pretty strong statement at the end of verse 26.  He said if a person considers themselves as “religious” but doesn’t control how they speak they are lying to themselves and their religion (faith) is “worthless”!  Those are strong words, folks.  James must mean what he says in no uncertain terms.  I’m guessin’ we’re supposed to pay heed to what he is saying.

In the final verse of Chapter 1 James gives us one more example of how our “religion” (faith) should manifest itself in helping others.  Read it below to refresh your memories.

27.  “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world”

Notice that James uses the words “pure and faultless”.  He attaches them to how we treat others, specifically some of the most needy people in his culture, orphans and widows.  It makes you wonder who he would include in that list in our current times.  I’m thinking it might be an even longer list.  True religion, religion which James called acceptable to God, isn't rituals and traditions, it's action!  We are told that we must help meet the physical needs of others.  He’ll have more to say about this idea as well in coming chapters.  He also reminds us in the end of verse 27 that we are to avoid the moral pollution we see plainly in the world around us.   He admonishes us to keep yourself pure and maintain a clean and p unpolluted heart & mind.

Now we’ll turn our attention to the main topic of today’s post.  As I said at the outset I like to title this lesson: Watch Your Mouth!   Before we move into this next section please take the time to read James 3:1-12 and then we’ll work through the passage a verse or two at a time.

¹ Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

 

We need to pray for and support our pastors and church leaders.  God places great responsibility on those who proclaim His word to others.   It’s a great privilege but it means a ton of responsibility as well.  

 ² We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

The first thing that comes to mind as I read verse 2 is another verse which is a great equalizer.  It is found in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  It is somehow reassuring to be reminded that we all fall short, we all stumble, and that means we all need Christ and all he provides us through the personal relationship he brings.  When we fall or stumble we need to realize that that experience is pretty much universal and while we don’t use that as an excuse we do need to get over it and get on with it!  We need to avoid wallowing self-pity but, instead, we need to turn to the Lord in repentance, ask His forgiveness and walk forward in His grace and strength.  Don’t wallow in self-pity, get moving!   Rejoice in your redemption.  In the next few verses James gives us ‘Five Word Pictures of the Tongue.’

³ When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.

The first word picture is that of a bit, which is part of the bridle.  It’s a relatively small metal object similar in size to a ball point pen.  It is fitted between the horses’ teeth and located at the rear of their mouth.   When a rider pulls on the reins, the bit pulls against the side of the horses’ mouth which results in turning his head to the side and his body follows in the same direction.  Regardless of how large that horse is (and some of them are pretty darn big) that little bit controls that animal well.  I once read an article which explained that a similar sized object is used to control camels.  It is a wooden plug which is place in the nostril of the camel and connected to something similar to the reins used on a horse.  I’m thinking that I’d be prone to obey a tug on that wooden peg if it was up my nose as well.  Ouch!  The point James is making should be pretty obvious.  Even though the tongue is a small part of the body it had a great impact on a person’s life.  Here’s the next illustration in the scripture.

⁴ Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.

 

The second word picture is that of a rudder.  Where we live we see freighters pass by which move goods around the Great Lakes and around the globe.  You can see as they pass that the rudder controlling these huge ships is very small when compared to the size of the ship  As I said regarding the bit and the rudder, they are small but have great impact.  James is restating the same fact about the tongue.  The next word picture deals with the kind of trouble that small tongue can cause.  The third word picture is fire.

⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.   ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

I’m sure you have read of great forest fires which were started with a single match, a discarded cigarette or an ember from a fire.  One small match can cause tremendous damage.  In the same way the tongue can start huge fires with the smallest flame: gossip, slander, insults, and hurtful comments.  The list is a long one for sure.  We need to always remember that a few words spoken in anger or as gossip can create years of hurt, lost friendship and all kinds of troubles.  Here are a couple more scriptures which might help.

Proverbs 26:20 - "Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down."

Proverbs 11:12 - "The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful."

 

It’s been said that ‘Hot words make for cool friendships.’  Many times I’ve heard that ‘You don’t have to explain something you haven’t said.”  That's great advice.                                                                                                                             

⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

James continues to remind the reader that the tongue is almost impossible to keep under control all the time.  Thomas Edison, at a dinner he was attending once explained it this way.  He was being recognized for inventing the “talking machine”.  We would think of it as the record player.  Edison was introduced at the dinner as the man who invented many wonderful inventions, especially the talking machine.  The aged inventor then rose to his feet, smiled and said gently to his audience: "I thank the gentleman for his kind remarks, but I must insist upon a correction.  God invented the talking machine.  I only invented the first one that can be shut off."

You may recall James 1:2 "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."  

James understood the power of the tongue and cautioned all that we need to “keep a tight rein” on it.  The spoken word can do so much damage so quickly.  Be careful of what you say and how you say it.  Remember: “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.”  (James1:19)   Be careful not to say, “I’d never say that!” or “I’d never use that tone!” or “I’d never stoop to that level when I talk!”  “No man can tame the tongue” (vs. 8).  It’s like the stories that appear in the news every now and then about a “tame” lion, or Rottweiler, or pit bull that “never hurt anyone before”, or “he’s a gentle pet”.  When you think you’ve got it all under control, look out.  Be on you guard.  When we think we have everything completely under control is the very time something is usually about to go wrong!

⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness.  ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.  ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?

These verses speak to the inconsistency of how we speak, the words we use and how they are spoken.   I love the phrase in verse 10 that really says it all, “My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”  You might hear someone near you say, “It just isn’t right!”

In Luke 6:45 Jesus speaks of the ‘fruit’ people see in the words we use.  He says,  "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

Jesus is saying that our words find their beginning in our attitudes, in the feelings we hold deep inside.  He says our words are merely showing people what we are thinking.  That’s kind of a sobering thought, isn’t it?

A brother in Christ once share this story.  He went to make amends with another man.  The man was unreceptive and eventually ordered my friend out of his home.  The man’s comments were laced with harsh words and profanity.  My friend, as he walked to the door to leave asked, “Do you kiss your mother with those lips?”  I thought that was an interesting and apt reply to the language the other fellow was using.  It might be a great reminder for some of us as well.

 ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

In Matthew 7:16 Jesus said something very similar.  He said, "By their fruit you will know them." I wonder, when you open your mouth and the words start to flow, what kind of fruit to people see in you.  Honestly, I ask myself that from time to time also.  Do people see Jesus Christ in my words as well as my actions?  I certainly hope so.  I hope you feel the same way too.

Here is a list of three things you might find helpful in controlling your own words.

1 - Pray daily for God's strength [Ps. 141:3,4]

2 - If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all.

  "If your comments don't build up (edify) then SHUT UP!" [Eph. 4:29,30A]

3 - If you have a problem with someone, go to them. (Mt. 18:15)

Here’s another aide: THREE FOLD TEST FOR THE TONGUE:

Is it true?     Is it kind?     Is it necessary?

Remember James 1:19 "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. For man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires."

 To close todays' post I’ll share this short poem.  Until next time...  God bless you.  Oh yes, and remember to ‘Watch Your Mouth!’

If your lips would keep from slips, five things observe with care:

            Of whom you speak, to whom you speak, and how and when and where.

I'm careful of the words I say to keep them soft and sweet.

            I never know from day to day which ones I'll have to eat.