James 3:1-12 says My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. Indeed, we put bits in 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. 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. 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. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 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? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Much can be learned from this text when it comes to the words that proceed from our mouths. We all get caught up in the heat of the moment while involved in conversations. We all would agree controlling our tongues in and of itself is a full-time job that requires thought, discipline and restraint. Earlier in James 2:22, we are taught when we respond to the commands of God, we are more mature than before we made a declaration to be obedient. With this “maturity” comes responsibility. The way in which we speak and the content of conversations reflect our maturity. In sum, our faith controls the tongue! We should never sell the power of our words short. James 3:5 tells us our tongue may be little, but it is powerful! How many times do we use our words for good and people are drawn to Christ? How many times have our words pushed someone closer to the world and away from the church? Let the words of our mouth be acceptable to God (Psalm 19:14).
