James 3

 God has an amazing sense of humor. Why? I get to blog on James 3 — “Taming of the tongue”. There should be no question that God is at work in our quiet times and even in this blogging. As everyone who knows me more than as a simple acquaintance can attest to, I struggle with this greatly. I am quick to speak and can say things that I should have filtered. I can use strong words to convey a message that doesn’t necessarily need that “salty” choice of language. This is probably the area in my life where I have the hardest time finding balance. Enough about that that … let’s look at the text and unpack what God has to say.

All of God’s children are called to mature in their spiritual walk (Hebrews 5:12-14). God doesn’t instruct us to simply trust in Christ and then stay stagnant for the rest of our lives. Instead, He calls us to grow — to move from milk to solid foods, as it were. Here, James is contracting this growth to state that not everyone should become teachers. A teacher was called a rabbi back then and in the Jewish culture (remember, James is writing to Jewish Christians here) to obtain a level of teacher was a big deal. It meant you knew your stuff and were kind of a big deal. However, James seems to be frustrated by the fact that there are so many people trying to either be a teacher or sit in the synagogues and act like one.

The next point he makes is that those who are called to be teachers will be held to a higher standard — judged with greater strictness. Now, as an elder of Hutto Bible Church and a teacher in High School ministry, this sits on my stomach like a ton of bricks. I am going to be judged with greater strictness?? The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives a great perspective on this:

Teaching has to be done, but those who teach must understand their responsibility, as those who teach will be judged more strictly. A teacher’s condemnation is greater because, having professed to have a clear knowledge of duty, he is all the more bound to obey it.

Much more could be said about this first verse but I don’t want to be long winded…

James then uses several analogies for the tongue: a bit in a horse's mouth, a rudder of a ship and a fire in a forest. In all of these references, a small thing (bit, rudder, fire) are able to affect major things (horse, ship, forest). Likewise, the tongue (even though a small object in our body) can affect not just us but the entire body!!

The tongue is not only powerful (like a fire) but it can be uncontrollable (like a wild beast)! Man has been able to tame the wild animals but James says that “no human being can tame the tongue”. Think about that! We can tame Killer Whales. We can take wild Mustangs. We can help wild eagles with injuries and birthing their young. We simply cannot tame our tongue. It is wicked and says things that affect and hurt others. The tongue can be controlled by Satan himself to destroy those in it’s path.

Now, as if I am not already convicted by James’s words… he goes on to say that we use our tongue to say prayers to the Lord, thanking Him for who He is and what He has done. Then we turn and insult our neighbor for being a knucklehead and not taking his trash cans inside. Or we talk poorly about someone in the body because they did something that we didn’t like. This is hypocrisy! This has to be simply repulsive to our Lord! How can we, in one breath, thank Him and bless Him and moments later “curse” His people? How offensive that must be to Him! This is an area where I need to make huge improvements. I need to stop being so disparaging about God’s people but love them. I need to remember that God is in control and trust Him to discipline His people where they need it and encourage them in their walk. I need to use my tongue for encouragement and support and not for tearing people down.

In fact, if I look at this chapter as a whole and think through the implications… I need to stop boasting in myself and in what I can do or have done. I need to stop allowing Satan a foothold in my life by controlling my tongue and saying damaging things. I need to trust in the Lord and pray for the Spirit to intervene in my life by helping me control my tongue.

PRAYER

Father, thank you for Your word. I am so appreciative that James spoke boldly through the Spirit and penned these words for me. Father, I need your help. I have sinned against others and against You in the way that I use my tongue. I have spoken words that have hurt others, that have hurt myself. I am truly sorry for that, Lord, and I ask for your forgiveness. I ask that You would convict me of my sin and bring specific names of people to mind that I need to ask for forgiveness because I have hurt them. Lord, You have created us in Your image and for Your glory. How dare I curse Your image bearers! Father, protect me from Satan and his control over my tongue. Help me to filter out those things that are not building up others and encouraging them. Help me to avoid “salty” language when unnecessary. Father, wreck shop in my life with respect to my tongue and my use of words! Lord, thank you again for this Scripture which speaks directly to my heart. Thank you for allowing me to spend time working through this with You. I pray, Lord, that you would affect the hearts of others in Hutto who need to hear this message today. I pray these things in the precious name of Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Amen. 

 

  JASON WORTHEN | Elder

 

Jason and Larissa were part of the founding members of Hutto Bible Church in 2007. Previously, they attended Hill County Bible Church Pflugerville for nearly six years. They have been married for 16 years and have three daughters: Elisabeth, Sarah and Rebekah. Jason is employed by General Motors and Larissa is a stay-at-home mom who works three times as hard. Jason put his trust in Christ in 2003 when he was attending Bible Study Fellowship in Austin. Both Jason and Larissa have served in Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry and in an elder capacity.