James 3: 1-12 (NIV84)
“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged 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. 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 are 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. 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 have been 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 grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
Beloved congregation of our Lord Jesus Christ, brothers and sisters,
The average person uses about 30,000 words per day. That’s a lot of words. Most of us speak enough words each day to fill a book. If you multiply that by the days in your lifetime, you would be able to fill a good-sized library with volumes of books written just by you.
During a typical worship service, I will use from 6 to 8000 words. And so, each Sunday I use up a good part of my allotment per day, just during the two worship services. I also know that my words are recorded. Hundreds of people listen to what I have to say. My words are usually also recorded on the Internet.
And so, during a worship service, I am careful with my words. Before I open my mouth on this pulpit, I will have carefully thought about what I’m going to say and how I will say it. I spend a good part of the week preparing myself.
But, did you know that all your words, day in and day out, are recorded as well? Do you know who does that recording? Well, the Lord God. He keeps a record of each word that we speak. He “bugs” our conversation every day. He is always listening in. And he holds us accountable for every word we utter.
The Lord Jesus made that clear when he said in Mt. 12:36, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (ESV) Therefore we must speak and act as though we were already facing Christ in judgement.
Sadly, the words we speak are not always wholesome words, are they? Just think about this morning before you came to church. Especially if you have little children to get ready, you may have spoken a few angry and unwise words. And perhaps after the worship service, you will get into the family car and gossip about others or argue with each other all the way home. That’s often the way it goes with us.
What is the matter with us? Well, the matter with us is that we all have unruly tongues. James’s words here in chapter 3 are just as fitting now as when he wrote them 2000 years ago.
James speaks about the power of the tongue. With our tongues we can achieve a great deal. With words, you can either build up or tear down. You can accomplish great things, but you can also do a lot of damage. The tongue is a very powerful instrument. That is what I will preach to you about this morning. It is about:
The Power of the Tongue (that’s also the theme)
It has the power:
1. to direct the course of life;
2. to destroy the circle of life;
3. to heal the source of life.
Earlier in his letter, James indicated that he would come to the subject of the tongue. He said back in chapter 1:26, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (James 1:26, NKJV)
And in verse 19 he writes that everyone should be quick to hear and slow to speak.
The tongue is a dangerous weapon and needs to be used with extreme caution. It must be handled with care. It is like a stick of dynamite. You had better not let it slip. A proverb says, “Though feet should slip, ne’er let the tongue.”
Surprisingly James begins by singling out a specific group, namely teachers. When we think about teachers, we think about those who teach in an elementary or high school or university or about ministers and elders. But, if that were the case, then most of you sitting in the pews would be let off the hook for it would apply only to a few individuals in our church. However, that is not what James has in mind here. The Scriptures consider all of us to be teachers.
Listen, for example, to how the author of the letter to the Hebrews addresses his readers. He says in ch. 5:12, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God.” (ESV) He expects all his readers to be well enough equipped to be teachers.
Yet, James writes here that not many of them should become teachers. Why does he say that? Well, apparently, they were at war with each other about leadership in the church, about who should be a leader or teacher.
So now he gives them a warning. They had better know what they’re doing. Being a teacher carries a lot of responsibility and requires a certain skill and discernment. That is why James earlier reminded the readers that you must be quick to hear, and slow to speak. That is one of the essential qualities of a good teacher.
Before you open your mouth, you first have to know whether the information you’re going to pass on is beneficial to the other person. You have to understand where the other person is coming from and what his or her need is.
That is especially true when you want to instruct someone in the true faith. It is important to establish a connection, an understanding, and a relationship first. The person you’re teaching about faith and what it means to be a Christian must first know that you are genuinely interested in him or her and that you care about them. You will only be effective if you understand their background and circumstances.
Most people you meet on the street or at the workplace know something about the Christian faith. But typically, they are misinformed with many misconceptions.
You have to know, “What are those mistaken beliefs? What are they misinformed about?” What keeps them from coming to the saving knowledge about Christ? What are the obstacles?
Are they disappointed in the Christian people they have met, or do they have certain misconceptions about the Bible? What is it? How do you find out? Every person is unique.
And you can only find these things out by listening to them and by trying to understand their point of view. Only then can you apply God’s Word to them. It must be applied to them within their specific situation and context.
For you see, we live in a world which does not reflect God’s world. Modern man has shaped this world into a world of their own making. A world wherein God’s words have been twisted and changed and even eradicated. The word “sin”, for example, has all but been removed from the public square.
Other words are either eradicated or changed to mean something completely different. At one time a gay person indicated someone who is joyful. But we know what it refers to now, don’t we?
Only a few years ago, we all knew what a boy or a girl is or what a mother or a father is. But now, if the progressives have their way, boys can be girls, and girls, boys, and mothers are now referred to as “birthing people.”
The devil knows that words and labels are powerful. They create a certain image in our own minds and change our way of thinking.
For that reason, we must teach others to use biblical language, especially our children, which is our most important task. Our children and grandchildren live in this modern perverted world and are affected by it. And they have to know what the real world is, the world as God has created it.
But you can only reach them and understand them if you see them within their own world. To what extent has this current culture influenced them? In what way? What is clear and obvious to us older people, may not be clear and obvious to them. And what is a priority for you or for me, may not be a priority for them either.
Our children are all unique. We read from Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (ESV, NKJV) Our children must understand biblical language and how that applies to them. They have to be taught a Christian worldview. That happens in the home and also in catechism classes and in the Christian school.
As it says in Deuteronomy 6:7, You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. (NKJV).” They must be bathed in God’s words.
But that must be done in wisdom. Proverbs 22:6 literally says, “Train a child according to the demand of his way.” That is also how some other translations have it. And so, a better translation would be, “train a child in accordance with his unique abilities and context, and when he is old, he will remain on the right track.” In other words, find out what kind of world your child lives in. Listen to him or her. How do they understand their world?
The way to bring up a child is not by lecturing them and overwhelming them with a torrent of words and instructions and do’s and don’ts. Use your words wisely and judiciously. Make sure they apply to them.
To instruct them in the way of the Bible does not mean that you impose your personal likes and dislikes upon your child. No, let them live their own life according to their own desires and aptitudes and abilities, not yours. While at the same time you make sure that whatever their preferences are, whatever direction they want to go in, they stay within the parameters of God’s law.
Brothers and sisters, that gives them an enormous amount of room, for God wants all of us to enjoy and interact with his creation to the fullest and in accordance with our own talents and preferences. There are numerous ways in which we can do that. There are abundant ways in which we can praise God and live our lives.
A teacher must be able to share God’s truth. But, as James is famous for pointing out in chapter 2:17, faith without deeds is dead. A teacher will not be effective unless he also practices what he teaches. Some parents say one thing to a child and do something completely different. That does a lot amount of damage. Kids will see their parents for the hypocrites that they are and reject their teaching.
Parents as teachers must be good role models. Children imitate us for good or for bad. If critical words constantly come from our mouths, our children will also be critical.
That also applies to the way we speak about the members of the church and the leaders, the ministers, and the elders. If they hear nothing but criticism, don’t be surprised that your child, when they are of the age of consent, stops going to church. Why should they go to such a church where there are nothing but bad people?
Oh sure, we are sinful people. That is why James says that we all stumble in many things. He includes himself in this. He says that no one is perfect in that regard. We all are prone to slips of the tongue. Don’t think that James is saying this because he wants to give us a way out:” We can’t help ourselves because that’s the way we all are.” That’s not what he means.
What he means is that when we speak to others, we must keep in mind that we are sinners just like they are. The word that he uses for “stumbling” literally means “to sin” or “to transgress.” Don’t come to others with a superior attitude as if you are better than they are, as if you know everything. No, you’re a stumbler like everyone else.
And so be humble. Apologize and ask for forgiveness when you have seriously misspoken. People do not respond very well to those who are smug and self-righteous. You will not come across to others as a compassionate and understanding person. But people do respond to kindness and gentleness. If you want to teach others, then you do so in humility.
That quality is essential for an office bearer. James says that if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body. As another translation has it, he can keep his whole body in check. Indeed, who is able to do that? I know I can’t.
When James uses the word “perfect,” he refers to maturity. And that’s the theme that he develops throughout his whole letter. He urges his readers on to the maturity of faith. Those who are mature in speech know what to say, how to say it, and when to say it. And when to keep their mouths shut. They have a good sense of what is proper in the moment and within the context.
James uses some very good illustrations to make his point. He compares the tongue to a bit in a horse’s mouth and to the rudder of ships. These two items are quite small yet exercise great power. You can control a powerful horse with a bit, and with a rudder you can steer a huge ship.
Horses are often used as an example of power. That is why even today we speak about the horsepower of a motor. But a horse needs to be controlled. And you do that by putting a bit into his mouth so that you can overcome the wild nature of the horse.
And a rudder of a ship is only a tiny part of that ship, but you use it to control that large ship to fight the winds and the currents that otherwise drive the ship off course.
There are also all kinds of things that threaten to drive us off course. Our old sinful nature wants to control us and make us do all sorts of nasty things. That sinful nature needs to be controlled. For that reason, we must learn to use our tongues in the right way, steering others in the right direction.
Brothers and sisters, and that includes you, boys and girls, never underestimate how you can direct the lives of others by the use of well-chosen and timely words. Think, for example, of how the Lord Jesus used his words and how he directed their lives. He spoke words of healing to those down and out, the prostitutes and the sinners.
He spoke to the woman at the well, for example, and her life was completely changed, as were the lives of her neighbours. He spoke kindly to her, even though she was a Samaritan and was hated by the Jews. The very fact that he spoke kindly to her made her think. It made her think about the message of salvation the Lord Jesus was bringing.
That is what it is all about! It is about changing the lives of others for the good, so that they may know and be given eternal life.
Do you want to direct the lives of your children, of your loved ones and be a positive influence on them so that they will direct their lives in the right way? Then use your tongue wisely. Use it the way the Lord Jesus used it: by being kind, compassionate, forgiving, and yet by setting clear boundaries.
2. With our tongues we can do a lot of damage (second point). In verse six James compares the tongue to a fire and states that the tongue sets the whole course of life on fire.
When he speaks here about the course of life, he uses an expression that means “the circle of life.” James suggests that the various aspects of our lives are connected like spokes in a wheel.
He is referring to all aspects of human existence, from beginning to end. Your life is shaped by the kinds of things that happen to you throughout the ages. You cannot divorce the present from the past. It’s all connected.
That is why James makes the point that you can destroy someone’s life with your tongue.
If a child grows up with nothing but criticism and harsh words, then he or she will have a tough time throughout their whole life. You may even destroy that child’s life.
But if a child grows up with kind and encouraging words, the opposite happens. You build him up and inspire him to live his life to the fullest.
Peaceful, gentle and kind words are the building blocks of life. When God spoke, we came into existence and were put into a delightful relationship with him. After the fall into sin, he spoke to us again and promised to save us from the evil one. These were words of love, care and compassion and wisdom. These are powerful words.
Don’t think that your words or mine are not powerful as well. They are. If you want to give your children, or your wife, or your husband a good life, then you do that by the kind of words you speak. And if you want to destroy their life, then you also do that by the kind of words you speak.
Words are extremely powerful. If you constantly say to your child that she is stupid or ugly or whatever, you do great damage. It’s a label that they will be wearing, and which will haunt them for the rest of their lives. That’s how they will see themselves. Labels stick.
When I lived in Houston, in northern British Columbia, a small community set in a large valley amid giant forests, there is a sizeable strip in the middle of the forest close to town, which was destroyed by fire. When the fire was raging, the town of Houston was greatly endangered. It affected the people adversely.
Later they were reminded of that fire whenever they went up for a drive and came across a swath of that great section blackened by the fire. That fire made quite an impact. People talked about it for years. It had the power to destroy substantial portions of the forest and almost destroyed that town of 4000 people.
That fire became known as the Swiss fire because it was accidentally set by someone from Switzerland who was there on holiday. However, the Swiss embassy did not like it was constantly referred to by the natives as the Swiss fire. For they felt that the reputation of Switzerland to be negatively affected in this way.
This story reminds me of the power of labels, and also of the power of fire. One thoughtless moment by a single person created much havoc and even threatened a whole country’s reputation.
Well, says James, the same thing is true of the tongue. One thoughtless remark can destroy the circle of life. You can interrupt someone’s mental well-being for a lifetime by making careless, hurtful remarks to another person. You can significantly alter another person’s mood and ability to function. And that is especially the case if you are in a position of power or influence: a parent, an elder or a minister, a deacon, or a good friend.
Unkind words spoken behind a person’s back are especially damaging. And let’s face it, we are all very good gossips, aren’t we? We like to talk about other people. That is one of our favourite pastimes. The book of Proverbs reminds us that when we do that, we add wood to the fire. It says in Proverbs 26:20, “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.” (NKJV) A talebearer is someone who gossips. Another translation says, “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.” (NIV84)
When there is a fire, it is often not the fire that does all the damage. No, you can have a small fire that can do great smoke damage. A fire spreads its misery around.
As James says, it is hard to tame a wild animal. However, it is even harder to tame our tongue. As someone said, “the most untamable thing in the world has its den behind the teeth.”
James describes the tongue as “a world of evil among the parts of the body.” How true that is. Think about the wrong language that constantly flows from our mouths. With our words, we express anger and bitterness. With our words, we express our sinful desires about the things we want to fulfil in our lives.
Our words are often selfish and self-serving. Our tongues express what lives in our hearts. Listen to what the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 12:34, “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.” (NKJV)
Our heart is the storehouse of our emotions and our desires. And the unsanctified heart is full of wrong desires and goals and ambitions. It is indeed a world of evil.
James says that our tongue is itself set on fire by hell. That’s quite a strong statement. But look at what Satan did with his words. He tempted Adam and Eve and spoke lies to them. His words were full of venom. As the Lord Jesus said in John 8:44, Satan is the father of lies and a murderer from the beginning.
But our tongues do not need to be set on fire by hell. Do you know how the tongues of the apostles were set on fire on that first day of Pentecost? Their tongues were set on fire by the Holy Spirit. And that fire is a purifying fire. That fire from heaven burns away all the impurities that live inside of us and come out of us through the mouth.
When our tongues are set on fire by the Holy Spirit, then they are a mighty tool in service of the Lord. Then they are a mighty tool in the building up of the church, in the building up of families, in the building up of friendships and all kinds of relationships.
But if the heart is filled with hatred, envy, and bitterness, then Satan is the one who is lighting the fire. And then all we do with our tongues is to destroy.
Our hearts, however, must be filled with love, the love of Christ (last point).
3. James says that the tongue is remarkably versatile. With the tongue, we can praise our Lord and Father, and with it, we can curse men who have been made in the similitude, in the image of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.
Brothers and sisters, why did God create us? He created us to praise his name, didn’t he? Indeed. That is the primary activity of the tongue. Words of praise must come out of our mouths.
James compares the mouth to a spring of water. He says that it is impossible that both freshwater and saltwater come out of the same spring. The spring that produces fresh and wholesome water gives water that gives life. It gives life to vegetation, and to animals and man.
This world cannot exist without fresh water. That is because water is the spring of all life. It is a life-giving source. The same thing is true of the source of life of human beings. The source of life for us is God’s Word and Holy Spirit that dwells within us. The proverb says, “the words of a man’s mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”
Water, however, can also do a lot of damage. Just think about floods. They bring death and instruction. So can our words. As it says in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” (NKJV)
Cool water is refreshing. So are well-chosen words. It was Paul’s prayer to the Romans that he might come to them with joy and together with them be refreshed” (Romans 15:32). What do you think they talked about together? About other people? About all the things that are wrong in this world? No, they talked about the gospel and how that refreshed and invigorated them and how joyful that made them. And how their fellow believers have refreshed him with their words.
They also talked about how they might bring others to know the glorious gospel of salvation. Kind and upholding and encouraging words can be so refreshing. They are the source of life.
Brothers and sisters, the words you hear from the pulpit and that are faithful to God’s inspired Word, are also words of life. That is why it is also important that you come together every first day of the week to hear the words of God. Without God’s word, you are dead.
Every time God speaks to you, he tells you in one way or the other that he loves you, that he graciously and mercifully forgives you your sins, and that he wants to dwell with you forever and ever. He wants to be near to you. That is, he wants to dwell in your heart.
Those are wonderful words. Those are upbuilding words. Those are the words of eternal life.
When the Lord Jesus spoke his words, it was always with the aim to bring others closer to their Father in heaven. And that is always what our aim should be as well. All our words must be chosen to direct others to the source of life, which is God.
That doesn’t mean that you can’t be critical of other people. But be critical of yourself first. And make sure that it is constructive criticism, that it is done in love. That it is done to bring people closer to God.
The tongue can be such a delightful instrument. That is why James compares the tongue to a tree. Trees are essential for the life of the earth. They produce clean air. They hold down the soil. They provide beauty and shade. And they bear fruit. In Proverbs 10:21 we read, “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of wisdom.” (NKJV)
Brothers and sisters, let your tongues be instruments of nourishment, of healing. “We all stumble in many things,” James says. Indeed. We are a bunch of stumbling fools, aren’t we? But it is especially because of that, that words can be so healing. When we do wrong, as we do all the time, an apology goes a long way. We are often very quick to criticize, but slow to apologize if we apologize at all. Wrong words leave festering wounds. But kind and humble words are like ointment on those wounds.
Brothers and sisters, boys and girls, God has given you a fantastic tool. It is very powerful. Use it in the way that he intended. But, it’s not something you can do in your own power. You need God’s help.
And so, pray daily that you may use your tongue for healing rather than wounding. As Paul says in Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” (ESV)
He preceded that advice in verse 2 by saying, “devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful.” It is only through prayer that the power of the Holy Spirit is available to you. Pray for your tongue to be set on fire by the Holy Spirit. And then God will bless you and make you a great blessing. Amen
