The Power of the Tongue

The Power of the Tongue - James 3

James 3:1-18

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue...." Proverbs 18:21.

The third chapter of James is about the untamable tongue. "For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:7, 8.

The tongue has the power to direct others. James compares it to the bit of a horse and the rudder of a ship. "Indeed, we put bits in the horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires." James 3:3, 4. Our words can lead others to Jesus and life, or turn them away.

The tongue has the power to destroy others. It's likened to a fire. "Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell." James 3:5, 6. Unkind words ruin lives.

The tongue has the power to display what kind of people we are. Sometimes our lives are a contradiction to our faith. "With it (the tongue) we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men.... Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?" Of course not! Our words reveal what we are on the inside. Profane words expose a profane person, kind words a kind person, and so on. Jesus expressed this when He said, "By their fruits you will know them." Matthew 7:20.

While we all stumble in many things, the man of godly wisdom and understanding speaks words that are "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." This doesn't happen overnight. It's the mature believer, who exercises the greatest control over this little member, the tongue. "If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect (or mature) man...."

In the meantime, "Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one." Colossians 4:6. Your words are powerful. Be careful, little tongue, what you say.

Lord, how careless we are at times! Keep watch over our mouths. We wish only to say those things which will bless and build up. May we speak words of life. In Jesus' name. Amen!

The Cure for Worldliness - James 4

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