Is there deadly poison in your mouth today?
In Part 1 we saw that our tongues can be used to monitor your spiritual health/life. Your tongue can be used to bring life, or to bring death, to upbuild or to tear down. Today: We ask the question; Is there deadly poison in our mouths today?
James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
Mature teachers need to speak a lot to convey whatever they are teaching. It does not seem to the case that everybody should be a teacher. We now have several pictures of what our tongue is like (see points #1 to #8 below).
James 3:3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.
James 3:4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.
Our tiny tongues direct us like a bit in a horse’s mouth or are like the small rudder on a big ship giving the direction of travel. The tongue may be a small body part but has a huge and disproportionate influence on the direction of our lives.
James 3:5 Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
4 James 3:6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
In the same way as a tiny spark can burn a whole forest to the ground, one foolish word can start a war, or even bring a life to ruin, or end a friendship.
James 3:7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue.
Lions, tigers, bears, elephants, and killer whales have all been tamed by men, but taming the tongue seems beyond man! So, if it is beyond us who do we look to for help?
It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison (what deadly poisons can you name?).
James 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 3:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.
3:11 Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring?
3:12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olive, or a grapevine bear fig?
Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water?
We must learn to use our tongues consistently for good! Lord help us!
Amen
Closing Prayer
for full text for printout and access to other parts of 'The power of your tongue' click below