“TAMING THE TONGUE”
“the rudder of our lives”
James 3:2-12
Fr. Christopher M. Nerreau
Illustration: Recently I made a trip to Wal-Mart, after having finished shopping and as I was walking to my car in a large parking lot I heard something that inspired this sermon. In the few moments it took me to get from the doors of the store to my car I overheard no less than 4 separate people gossiping. Three of them were on cell phones and the fourth speaking with someone face to face.
I was very impressed with the degree of effort they put into comforting their conscience while doing it…
o “I should not say this but I think you need to hear it.”
o “I normally do not talk like this but this is really important”
o “If they ever found out I said this I would feel terrible but…”
o “Promise you won’t say anything but…”
It was at that moment that I realized that human beings can break a better part of the Ten Commandments with nothing more than their tongues!
Proposition: James said - if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man [mature], able to bridle the whole body as well. (vs. 2)
Interrogative sentence: What does your tongue say about the condition of your heart?
Sermon Preview: James considers the tongue significant because:
1. OUR TONGUES CAN DIRECT OUR LIVES (vs. 2-4)
2. OUR TONGUES CAN DESTROY OUR LIVES (vs.6)
3. OUR TONGUES CAN DISPLAY OUR LIVES (vs. 9-12)
Transitional Sentence: Look with me as we see just how…
I. OUR TONGUE CAN DIRECT OUR LIVES (vs. 2-4)
Explanation: THE BIBLE SAYS: James 3:2-4 “Now if we put the bits into the horses mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ship also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder.”
James was a living witness to the power of Christ’s tongue. With it Christ calmed the storm, healed the sick and raised the dead! At first glance the tongue may seem insignificant but James gives us two vivid illustrations to help us realize this is not so:
The Bit Of A Horse (vs. 2-3) First he describes the tongue as a bit that controls the horse.
• Understand in biblical times the horse was a very large animal. It was also a slave, and required to work as the master directed. To control this large animal a bit was placed into its mouth, attached to it was reigns which are pulled this way and that.
• James paints the image of - God’s highest creation as slaves, slaves to the tiny bits in our mouths, the tongue, which pull us this way and that.
The Rudder of A Boat (vs. 4) Secondly, James pictures a very large sail boat
• This sail boat is strong enough to pull entire crews and bear the weight of strong winds and destructive seas. Yet it is a slave to a very small piece of lumber underneath the sea.
• Again this image describes the human condition. We are created as magnificent beings and yet controlled by such a small thing as the tongue.
Illustration: To demonstrate the power of the tongue in directing our lives I only need remind you of the sacrament of marriage. Two small words (I Do) rolling off the tongue change the direction of our lives forever!
Application: The tongue works like the bit of a horse or rudder of a boat. Connected directly to our hearts, the words it speaks are irrevocable and change the direction of our lives forever. Do not misjudge the power of the tongue by its size! Though the tongue is small and hidden in the mouth, its power is strong enough to direct our entire lives. Where is your tongue leading you?
II. OUT TONGUES CAN DESTROY OUR LIVES (vs.5- 6)
Explanation: THE BIBLE SAYS: (v.5-6) - “see how great a forest is set aflame but such a small fire. The tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defile the entire body, and set on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”
• James gives another image to describe the tongues power to destroy. In the time of Jesus people used to bring their trash and dead live stock, even human corpses to be burnt by a constant fire known as Gehennah.
The Tongue As Fire In This World (5-6) James uses this idea of fire to describe the tongue.
• The fire can start out small but slowly grows to consume a great forest.
• James describes the tongue in the same way – Although small it is deadly!
• In This life the tongue is like fire that burns with gossip, slander, lies, deceit, unjust anger, swearing and perversion! Our tongue, like Gehennah, is a hot fire that destroys this life.
The Tongue As Fire In The World To Come (5-6)
• In His sermon on the mount Jesus said – “whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.”
• This same tongue that destroys life in this world has eternal consequences as well. Notice how James describes the tongue on fire in Hell - “and is set on fire by hell.” –
Notice Luke 16:24 “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’
Illustration: One of the best ways to put out a fire is with fire itself. To burn in front of an behind the fire. In that sense fire destroys fire. In a similar way we kill ourselves! Our tongues, part of our own body destroy the “entire man”.
Application: James warns that the tongue can destroy our lives here on Earth and through gossip, slander and perversion. But that it also will lead us to an eternal consequence as well. Again I ask you to consider your own tongue!
Transitional Sentence: So we have seen how the tongue can direct now see…
III. OUR TONGUES CAN DISPLAY OUR LIVES (vs. 9-12)
Explanation: THE BIBLE SAYS: – James 3:9 “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God… My bretheren these things ought not be… does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my bretheren produce olives, or a vine produce figs.”
• James gives a final warning regarding the tongue with a single observation and two more illustrations:
The Tongue Should Not Be Double Minded (v.9)
• In the time of Jesus the Jews would say – “Blessed be He” whenever God was discussed. Yet James shows the double mindedness of the tongue as it curses God’s children.
The Tamed Tongue Should Be Consistent (11-12)
• Fountain – Either a fountain is fresh water or salt water but it is never both.
• Fig Tree – Fig Tree cannot produce olives
• In the same way the tongue should be consistent, blessing and not cursing.
• The tongue
Illustration: I was at a RedSox game one evening, there was man and his son sitting next to me. Having overheard him tell his son how excited he was to be at the game with him, I was very surprised when a few innings later the father began to curse at the umpire right in front of his son. The man’s tongue was not consistent.
Application: You can learn much about your life and your relationship to our Lord Jesus Christ by listening to the things you say.
• Do you find yourself constantly gossiping, using your words to tear down. How does that contrast with the prayers you are praying this morning?
• James reveals the inconsistent tongue as a deeper problem, a problem of the heart.
Transitional Sentence: As we conclude today…
CONCLUSION:
The problem of the tongue is that it is connected to the heart! Out of the “overflow of the heat does the mouth speak.”
• Our tongues reveal a deeper condition, a heart condition.
• Our Lord said – Matthew 15:18 - “The things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.”
Restate Proposition: James said - if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man [mature], able to bridle the whole body as well. (vs. 2)
• This is because to tame the tongue is to tame the heart!
Final Application:
When I first began to live a life for God I was a foul mouthed bartender. Slowly, I was convicted by the things my tongue said and God’s Holy Spirit began to change not my tongue but my heart and my tongue followed.
Do you want to gain some insight to your own heart today, ask yourself – “How is my tongue?”
• Do I use it to build up or tear down?
• Do I gossip, Slander or curse?
• Am I inconsistent one minute praising the Lord and the next persecuting my brother?
You ask - How do I tame my tongue? This can only happen through a conversion of heart.
Christ removes our hearts of stone and puts within us a heart of flesh.
We need a conversion of heart, we need Christ!
Restate Main Points: Remember that…
1. OUR TONGUES CAN DIRECT OUR LIVES (vs. 2-4)
2. OUR TONGUES CAN DESTROY OUR LIVES (vs.6)
3. OUR TONGUES CAN DISPLAY OUR LIVES (vs. 9-12)
Amen!
