May 10, 2023 | Be On Mission
Wisdom in Monitoring the Mouth
Scripture: James 3 (NIV)
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 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.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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. 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.
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.
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? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.
Devotional
Oh the mouth. If only there were a filter between the brain and the mouth, or at least one that we actually used. Loose lips are not exactly a new problem. The epistle of James is the first book of the New Testament that was written. Right out of the gate, followers of Jesus were being challenged to tame their tongues. What does James say are some of the dangers of wayward words?
The old saying goes, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” But we all know this is not true. Who doesn’t remember a harsh word spoken years ago that bounces around the memory like an echo in an endless cave?
Socrates famously said that before speaking one should ask themselves, “Is it true, is it kind, and is it necessary?” I would add, “Does God want me to say it?” How does this teaching on taming the tongue challenge you?
In the concluding verses of this chapter, James moves from the outer world of the spoken word to the inner voice of spiritual wisdom. He lists several aspects of this inner world, some negative and some positive. Examine your own life in light of these character issues:
Bitter envy
Selfish ambition
Earthliness
Unspiritual
Demonic
Humility
Purity
Peacefulness
Considerateness
Submissiveness
Mercy
Impartiality
Sincerity
Righteousness
Poem
Bridle And Bit
When anger is arising
When gossip whets the tongue
With prideful tempest raging
When bitterness has won
Address not all around you
Instead pray hard for grace
To rein the wildy beast in you
To steer you in life’s race
Do not comply with culture
Don’t join surrounding throng
Resist the great temptation
To speak all that is wrong
Allow the Spirit’s bridle bit
Into your mouth be set
And shut the lips around it snug
Your mustang ways offset
How great a fire can set ablaze
By just one sparking word
For once it’s cast into the air
It truly will be heard
‘Tis better not to say a word
Than breathe a fearsome torch
‘Tis better let the tree bear fruit
Than perish—forest scorched
