Every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish is tamed and has been tamed by humankind, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James 3:7-8
Tame the Tongue – A James 3 Devotional
I don’t know about you, but sometimes my mouth gets me in trouble. The words slip out before I even think about what I am saying, seeming to erupt from a well of emotion. Like my tongue has a mind of its own. And I can tell from scrolling through social media that I am not the only one who has trouble at times controlling what they say.
The same problem plagued the early church. Sure, they didn’t have Facebook or Instagram or Twitter, but they had mouths. They had emotions and uncontrolled thought lives. They had sinful hearts just like we have today.
A good person produces good out of the good stored up in his heart. An evil person produces evil out of the evil stored up in his heart, for his mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. Luke 6:45
Give Yourself a Little Time
When we let our thoughts and emotions run out of control and contrary to the Word of God, our mouths will follow. In contrast, when we learn to control our mouths and keep silent, we give ourselves time to realize that our thoughts and emotions are not necessarily righteous just because they popped up inside of us. Closed, controlled lips allow us the time we need to rein in those runaway thoughts and emotions.
With a little time and effort, we can protect against the damage that an overactive mouth can wreak on the people around us. James warns us that this is a difficult task. It is not for the faint of heart.
And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among our members. It stains the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:6
James gives us wonderfully vivid illustrations from life about the tongue:
1. A Rider on a Horse
When a rider mounts a horse and starts to ride, the horse does not get to choose where to go on its own. No, the rider gets to choose where the horse will go. How does the rider guide the horse and make them go where he wants? A bit/bridle system. The bit in the horse’s mouth is attached to the bridle and reins. When the rider pulls the reins to one side, the horse feels that pulls on its mouth and moves in that direction.
The tongue is like that bit in the mouth. Just as this small device in the mouth of a horse moves the whole body of the horse, so our mouths can direct what our whole bodies will do. Wherever our tongue leads, our actions will follow.
2. A Ship on the Sea
Imagine a ship on the open ocean. The ship does not just get to decide where to go. The Captain of the vessel controls the rudder, a small device which determines the direction of the entire ship.
In the same way, our tongues are only a small part of our bodies, but they can control us if we do not control them.
3. A Small Spark sets a Forest Ablaze
I remember when I was a young girl, there were commercials and posters with Smokey the Bear. He would give an example of someone throwing out a lit cigarette but on the side of the road or a single match igniting huge forest fires. He would end with his tagline, “Only You can Prevent Forest Fires.”
James gives this example too! He says the tongue is like a spark that starts a fire. From one misspoken word, a blaze can grow and grow until is destroys everything in sight and is far beyond your control.
Then, he says that the tongue itself is igniting by hell. Satan is trying to get you to unleash your tongue on the world. He is striving to get us to lose control over our problematic mouths. He wants us to trip ourselves and others up with our words.
4. A Spring of Weird Water
James reminds us that we have free will. Our tongues can do things that would not be natural at all in nature. It can produce good and evil, blessing and cursing.
What spring in nature would flow with both salt and fresh water? NONE! But we have a choice with our tongues and they can do both.
With the tongue we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, these things should not be this way. Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? James 3:9-11
5. Botany that is Boinkers
Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers and sisters, or a grapevine produce figs? James 3:12
What fruit does our lives show through our words? If you are like me, sometimes it is good and sometimes not so good. In nature, this is not the case, but the tongue is a weird animal that is difficult to tame.
Worth the Work
However, it is worth the work to tame the tongue. We all make mistakes. We all sin. However, if we could tame the tongue completely, we would be completely mature and able to keep our bodies from sinning as well.
For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body. James 3:2
Even if we can’t quite master the tongue completely yet, any move we make in that direction is a move toward holiness in our lives.
Shift in Topics?
After twelve verses in chapter 3 about the tongue, James seems to make a huge shift in topics.
Who among you is wise and understanding? By his good conduct he should show that his works are done in the gentleness that comes from wisdom. James 3:13
However, it seems to me that he is not really making that big of a leap at all. He has stated at the beginning of the chapter that if you want to be a teacher (of the Word of God), you should really give it a lot of consideration because you will be judged more strictly than an ordinary person.
Teachers
A teacher primarily uses their mouths to communicate. They use the tongue so much that the probability of it tripping them up and cause them to sin. So, James teaches about the dangers of not controlling your tongue.
People who wish to be teachers are often those who like recognition from their words too. They enjoy the respect and praise of people who hear them and consider them wise. However, in verse 13, James warns us that if you are truly wise and understanding, it is your conduct rather than your intellectual knowledge and words that show that wisdom.
What Wisdom is NOT…
We are told by James that wisdom is not self-seeking, greedy, ambitious, bitter, and envious. If your words and conduct are showing those things, then what wisdom you think you have (no matter how much knowledge you have) is earthly and demonic.
But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and every evil practice. James 3:14-16
What Wisdom is…
Wisdom from heaven is different! Instead of proving that you are right, if you have God’s wisdom, you will make peace, promote purity, be gentle, show love, extend mercy, and not have to pretend. The fruit of righteousness grows from the seeds of this wisdom.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace. James 3:17-18
Silence is Golden
As we start to tame our tongues, we take the time to consider our thoughts and emotions and measure them against the wisdom of God in His Word. We can also use that time to ask God for His wisdom, which He is willing to give freely. Our quiet tongues yield lives that bear the fruit of righteousness.
Action Step:
This is a hard one. It is a battle we have to keep fighting everyday all day long. However, it does get a little easier as we train ourselves to stay silent rather than reacting immediately. When close our lips and give ourselves time to control our thoughts and emotions. When we measure our responses by God’s standards instead of how we feel.
Today, let’s take those first steps of assessing how we are doing in this area. Look back at your conversations, emails, and social media posts so far today in your mind – have they been filled with the fruit of righteousness and peace or have they been divisive, envious, bitter, damaging to others, etc.
Let’s take a beat next time you feel your emotions rising up or thoughts arguing for your own way or what you want – consider the other person or people. Pray for God’s peaceable wisdom.
Prayer:
Dear God,thank you for hard teachings that apply practically to our lives. Help us to keep pushing our tongues back onto the Christ-centered path of life. Give us Your wisdom and help us to grow in righteousness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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