The Power Of The Word

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)