CHAPTER THREE
3:1-12 Superior Faith Controls the Tongue
As chapter three opens, James warns that very of his readers should aspire to the office of teacher because teachers are judged on a higher standard. Of course, by teachers he literally means those who want power within the church. They want the position of teacher because of the respect that comes with the office. However, James warns about the stricter standards that God uses to judge the teacher.
Never does James imply that one ought to be perfect to be a teacher. He immediately says “We all stumble.” In fact, he points out a very basic area that most people have problems with—controlling the tongue. He suggests that if one could control the tongue he would be a perfect person. This is a simple truth because the tongue is indeed the hardest part of the body for us to control.
I believe James was pointing out an obvious problem in the lives of those who wanted to be teachers within the church. They were morally pure in many ways. I doubt that they were drunkards or sexually immoral. In fact, the opposite is likely true. They were probably very moral people, but somehow they had forgotten that God viewed sinful speech on the same level as drunkenness or other sin. In other words, they thought that they could speak hatefully towards others each other and it would somehow not affect their spiritual walk. Sadly, they were very, very wrong.
Before looking further into James fantastic description of the evils of the tongue it would be prudent to point out that there is more in the Bible about the sins of the tongue, the lips, the mouth, etc. than any other sin. There is more written about what we say and how we say it than there are warnings against idolatry. There are more Scripture references about sinful speech than sexual immorality.
Even people who have a semblance of righteousness have problems with what they say. Isaiah the prophet was convicted when he saw the vision of the Lord in Isaiah chapter six. He declared that he was a man of unclean lips and that he lived among a people who had unclean lips. Does this mean Isaiah cursed, lied, or demeaned others? I don’t think so. I think it relates to the death of good king Uzziah. I think that the general mood of the public was to express a lack of faith in God that bordered on accusing God of injustice towards Uzziah. One way we sin is by expressing an utter despair in life’s circumstances that we even begin to imply that somehow God is unfair.
Gossip is the only sin that is permitted in nearly every congregation across America. If someone stormed into the church cursing and swearing we would ask that person to leave immediately. The usher would move towards the person and make certain that he was departing. Yet people feel free to tell stories (sometimes disguised as prayer requests) or impart information that they have no business imparting.
The story is told of a Pastor who asked his congregation to read Mark 17 in preparation for the following Sunday’s sermon. The next Sunday he stood in the front of the church and asked how many had actually done so. A large number of the congregation responded with uplifted hands and nods. “I’m so glad that this morning’s message will apply to so many of you,” he declared boldly. “This morning we are going to be speaking in regards to dishonesty. As many of you Bible students already know, the gospel of Mark ends at chapter 16.”
While the story is a bit silly it illustrates another problem. It illustrates the fact that many believers think that there is room for “polite dishonesty” in their spiritual walk. We need to move beyond the place where we lift our hands to make the pastor feel good. We need to overcome any type of etiquette that allows us to promise our heartfelt prayers and then to walk away and forget the matter entirely. We are commanded in Ephesians 4:25 to speak truth with each other because we are members of one another.
Three illustrations are offered by James to describe how the tongue is small thing but has the ability to control things that are large. He describes how bits help us control a 1200 pound horse or a rudder controls a large ship. He describes how a small spark can burn down a whole forest. His illustrations are to the point. The idea is clear- the tongue has the power to set the direction of our life. We use our tongue to confess our faith in Christ and obtain salvation (See Romans 10). We use the tongue to confess our readiness to serve God. All marriage ceremonies I have ever seen had at least one point where both bride and groom were required to commit verbally to the marriage. Our tongue can lead us into or out of danger. We can offer a soft answer in an attempt to turn away wrath (Proverbs 15:1) or we can choose a harsh answer and create even more conflict.
The sad thing is that James declares that we will never be able to completely tame the tongue. He points out that man has tamed many types of wild animals, but the tongue is impossible to tame. Exotic animals will sometimes revert to wild behavior. For example, circus or zoo elephants will sometimes go mad and rampage against their keepers. Even the tamest pet chimpanzee can become an aggressive wild animal in just an instant. Even more so, the tongue is inclined towards evil. The King James calls it unruly and the New International Version refers to it as restless. It is both. In fact, the Greek root word has the idea of being unable to be restrained.
My dad once owned a beautiful palomino horse. The horse was extremely spirited, excitable, jumpy, and barely under control. Nearly every time dad thought he had finally tamed this excitable creature he would be reminded that this powerful creature was always ready to uncoil like a high-tension spring. There was always the chance that this animal would come unglued and start his frightening antics once more. There was never a relaxed moment when dad was riding Sunny.
I believe that James is suggesting that this is the case with the tongue. It is always there ready to cut loose with unsavory remarks. It is always ready to pour out the words which poison relationships, harm others, and destroy our own witness for Jesus Christ.
James points out the hypocrisy that comes about when we use the same tongue to praise the Lord and demean others. Despite the fact that we cannot tame the tongue we have a responsibility to make a sincere effort to do so. The apostle says that praise and cursing should not come from the same mouth.
What James is saying is very close to what Jesus said in Matthew 12:35. “A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.”
James’ final illustrations of the spring and the fig tree are designed to remind the reader that the words which fall so easily from our mouths are demonstrations of what is really in our hearts. Therefore, those who were aspiring to leadership roles in the church should recognize that their words against others within the church were not a demonstration of spiritual maturity, but rather a demonstration of the real fruit that was in their hearts. Their words were an outward demonstration of their sinful ambition.
So a simple test is established for our walk with Christ. Is the fruit of our lips a mixture of both helpful and hurtful speech? Are we demeaning our brothers and sisters in Christ in order to get ahead and climb a ladder of popularity within the church?
The context here is clear. Some of the very folks that James was writing to were so ambitious as to use their tongues to destroy others within the church. They were using others as stepping stones to positions of social prominence and respect within the church. In this light, we would do well to consider the apostle Paul’s command in Philippians 2: 3, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
It should be noted that as strong as his rebuke is James still claims spiritual relationship with his readers. Twice he calls them his brothers. James has not disowned these who have followed their selfish ambition, but he exhorts them to overcome this selfish behavior and to grow up. He speaks to them as brethren in Christ, not as heathen. It also helps demonstrate that unbelievers were not the target of his message but that his focus was on the behavior of the believer.
3:13-18 Superior Faith Has a Right Attitude
Once again, James reminds us that actions always speak loused than words. James asks “Who is wise?” and “Who has knowledge?” but doesn’t wait for a response because he asks for a demonstration of that wisdom and knowledge through right living.
You cannot separate your attitude towards others from your walk with God. How you behave towards others is an important demonstration of your love for God. Jesus declared that an important sign of our discipleship is a love for one another. James declares that you have to demonstrate a walk with God through your behavior towards others. If you are proud and arrogant then you aren’t truly wise. If you are attempting to prove yourself superior to others then your wisdom is phony. If you are not humble you aren’t so smart.
These people were asked by James to examine their hearts. If they had bitter jealousy towards others it was not a cause for rejoicing, but a cause for confessing. If they had selfish ambition it was time to admit it and repent.
How can people claim to be superior in faith and more spiritually mature while stepping all over their fellow believers? James points out that the bad feelings and the conflict was not part of the fruit of godly wisdom, but instead a work of the devil. Satan desires to bring conflict and destruction. It brings disorder and disorder generally brings with it wicked practic Obviously, that is the opposite of what God is seeking to accomplish. It is far from a heavenly wisdom that these ambitious people were claiming.
Sadly, James has to offer some very basic instruction about godly wisdom. He uses a number of adjectives to describe it. We’re going to analyze this carefully.
First, godly wisdom is pure. It is innocent and has no hidden motives. It is like an innocent child.
Second, it is peaceable. It seeks peaceful solutions. We should always recall that peacemakers are called the children of God.
Third, it is gentle or patient. It moves slowly and deliberately so as not to cause harm to others. It gives others the chance to grow and mature.
Fourth, it is approachable. People can come and discuss issues or disagreements with a person with this sort of wisdom without the fear of having their head bit off. God’s people must be approachable and able to disagree without fighting over issues.
Fifth, it is FULL of mercy and good fruit. Mercy and righteousnessoverflows from the life of the person who has godly wisdom. It spills over. I once saw this illustration and have used it myself. Imagine a fellow with a full glass of water standing firmly and holding it with two hands. If someone were to push that man and cause him to lose his balance what do you suppose will spill from the glass. Obviously, water would spill out. After all, you didn’t fill it to the brim with Diet soda. If you fill your heart with God’s mercy, then when you get bumped in life, then God’s mercy will come forth. If your heart is full of bitterness, ambition, etc. then those things will spill out of your mouth when you get pushed about in life. Fill up your heart with godly treasure and good fruit.
Sixth, it is impartial. It treats everybody the same way. It does not show the favoritism that James condemned in chapter two. A wise person graces every person he encounters with the love of God without regard of his social prominence or ability to do favors, etc.
Seventh, it is sincere. It is without playacting. It isn’t feigned. It is the genuine article.
The chapter (but not the discussion, because these chapter and verse markers were added by later translators) concludes with a reiteration of the need for the believer to be a peacemaker and to plant in peace. Planting in peace leads to a crop of righteousness.
Some crops grow well in certain climates. Personally, I love Okra. I like it boiled, fried, or in some form of soup or gumbo. Okra is one vegetable that doesn’t do well if it is frozen or canned. Fresh okra is wonderful. Frozen okra is not so good. It takes HOT and HUMID weather for okra to grow well. So, usually, if I visit my parents in Oklahoma in the mid-summer months they have okra. When I visit them in the Spring, they don’t have any.
Righteousness cannot grow in the midst of strife and conflict. It isn’t the right sort of climate for spiritual growth. Paul reminded Timothy that God’s servant was not supposed to be quarrelsome, “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient.” II Timothy 2:24. You aren’t prepared to teach and lead if you are all primed for some sort of fight. Are you a fighter? Or a peacemaker? It is the peacemaker who is called the child of God.
