The Book of James - 5
The Christian Tongue - Chapter 3, Verses 1 - 12
Communicating the Christian life very much involves the way we speak, and this is what James deals with in these early verses of chapter 3. Inevitably those who teach must use language in order to communicate with those who are to learn from them. Those who are called to minister and teach the truths of Christianity must be especially careful in what they say. All leaders of Christian communities will have to give an account to God of what they say and do.
See what James says when in makes this point in verses 1 and 2:
"Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judges more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check."
What is emphasised here isthe awful power of the tongue. All sorts of things can happen, for good or bad, by what we say. Notice how this is illustrated for us in verses 3 to 6:
"When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 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. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell."
The small bit in the horse's mouth; the small rudder on a ship; the small spark that sets up the blaze, all illustrate how a small word can issue in widespread effects. Clearly there is a responsibility on every Christian to guard the tongue. If this is not done great harm can follow, affecting not only the speaker's life, but also the lives of those who hear.
Look now at verses 7 to 12 of this chapter:
"All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed, and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who havebeen made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig-tree bear olives, or a grape-vine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
Every Christian should seek from the Lord control of the tongue at all times. It is not enough to speak in a Christ-like way sometimes, and then at other times to voice things that are harmful, selfish or evil. Of course we live in an evil world and are continually surrounded by things which are not of God. But that is no reason for us to be influenced by them and allow our standards to fall.
There are some places where freshwater springs flow down to the seashore. Twice every day the tide comes in and floods over them, but as the tide recedes, pure, fresh water continues to flow from the springs, quite unaffected by the flood of saltiness that engulfed them for a time. That is how we must live as Christians. We are IN the world but NOT OF IT. Out of us must flow rivers of living water to the thirsty souls around. That living water is the power of the Holy Spirit commending the Lord Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father.
There are times to speak, and times to be silent. At His trial before Pontius Pilate our Lord Jesus had ready answers to give when needed, and was also able to be silent when that was best. It is so easy to give quick, sharp answers in self defence, and to stand up for what we imagine to be our rights, as people say. But if our lives are fully committed to the Lord, then He will give us the understanding when to be silent and when to speak.
It is not up to us to make rules about this. God may urge us to do one thing on one occasion, and quite a different thing on another. I find it good to ask God to guide me through each day, and to keep me willing to obey Him, and to be ready always for what He wants me to do. This readiness to be obedient, and to DO the will OF THE LORD, is, I am sure, one secret of victory over the tongue.
It is not always necessary to give a long talk about Christianity to those you meet. A quiet simple testimony of what God has done for YOU is usually more effective. But it is very often in the ordinary affairs of life that we get tripped up in our speech. Someone speaks to us sharply, and before we realise it we have answered back in the same tone. Someone does us a bad turn and we respond with angry words. These are the times which must be guarded against, and when we must keep our tongue under control.
Perhaps you have tried hard to overcome such a failing. You will never overcome in your own strength. It is only as you recognise your weakness, and are willing to ask the Lord Jesus to take over and for Him to control you, that victory can come. Pray about this, and trust Him. Then you will see that as time passes by you will be given the victory, and your tongue will speak like Him, and of Him.