Studies from the Book of James

"Don’t get Hung by the Tongue" James 3:1-12

It was Thomas Brooks who said—"We know metals by their tinkling and men by their talking".

James would have agreed with this statement, for no less than six times in this epistle, he deals with the tongue. What comes out of our mouths is so vitally important. One of the greatest dangers that we, as Christians face, is the wrongful use of our tongue.

When a doctor examines a patient, he will often ask him to stick out his tongue. This is helpful in diagnosing the illness. Spiritually, the tongue test is also valid, for what we say is very revealing of where we’re at in our walk with the Lord.

But she persisted. Finally he said, "I’ll have to go and talk to the manager." He went to the rear of the store, not noticing that the woman was walking right behind him. When he got into the back of the store, he said to the manager, "There’s a silly old woman out there who wants to buy half a head of lettuce.

What should I tell her?" Seeing the horrified look on the face of the manager, he turned about and, seeing the woman, he then added, "And this nice lady wants to buy the other half of the head of lettuce. Will that be all right?" Relieved, the manager said, "yes that will be fine".

Having just dealt with the relationship of Faith and Works, James now moves on to deal with the relationship of Faith and words. Our words reveal what is in our heart. James is writing to those who are having serious problems with their tongues.

James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

James 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

Words are very powerful. How many children have heard their parents say, " you are useless and you will never amount to anything"?

The children believe these words and allow these words to shape their lives. Words have a tremendous power for good or bad.

Washington Irving said, "A sharp tongue is the only edge tool that grows keener with constant use."

James 3:1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

The word masters means "teachers" Not many of you should presume to be teachers, those who have the responsibility of instructing others.

Teacher is a special office in the Church of Christ. Teachers are a special gift to the Church, for the perfecting and edification of the people of God.

A particular danger, confronting teachers in their ministry, is one of speech. Controlling what we say is the most difficult thing we have to do. This problem faces all believers, but is especially crucial for teachers.

In the Church because of the prominence and importance of the teacher, some have the desire to be recognized as teachers, without considering carefully the seriousness of the responsibility involved.

The reason for being careful about becoming a teacher is "we shall incur a stricter judgment." James includes himself here as a teacher.

The judgment referred to here is the Judgment Seat (bema) of Christ. All believers will give an account before Christ of their service for Him in this life Rom. 14:10-12; 1 Cor, 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:10.

Though all believers must appear before this Judgment Seat to be evaluated by Christ, teachers will be judged more severely. Increased responsibility and influence mean greater accountability on their part.

The word "stricter") indicates there will be degrees of judgment at this Judgment Seat. (Amp) Teachers will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity than other people.

Being a teacher is the most important responsibility in the church. Three things must be true of a believer who desire to be a teacher:

Unbelieving teachers present their traditions. And even among believers there is a dearth of sound Bible teaching. Many prefer to be entertained rather than edified.

Even as believers we are guilty of ignoring the clear teaching of God's Word. Teachers are guilty of trying to please the people in their teaching.

There are People who have neither the gift nor calling from God, but have a carnal ambition of seeking to be teachers. This happened in the Jewish synagogues. Jesus condemned those who were doing their works to be seen of men, and loved the best places at the feasts, and took pride, when called by men, Rabbi.

1 Tim 1:7 Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.

There are who love the limelight of the pulpit on a Sunday, but are not ready for the long hours of study and self-denial from Monday to Saturday. Thus, we have superficial teaching from the pulpit and dearth and death in the pew.

James gives a strong, clear reminder that teachers must be very careful. They have greater responsibility and will have a greater judgment before Christ.

Teachers must have a Balanced Ministry. This calls for Biblical Correction—and not just continual Barren Criticism. There must be Leadership but not Lordship over the flock of God. Teachers are not to be "Hung by their Tongue.

The idea here is not that we offend everyone to whom we minister; he is saying that all offend, including him, for none of God’s children are perfect. ( Amp) For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things.

Eccl 7:20 For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

If I stumble over something that is lying on the road, it is because I am careless and have not been looking where I was going. If I stumble with the tongue, it is because I am careless and have lost control of this little member.

Peter boasted, Lord all men may offend Thee but I will never do that. Later he denied his Lord with cursing.

Someone once said, "We should remember that the tongue is in a wet place, and we can slip easily.

Proverbs 21:23"Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue, keepeth his soul from trouble."

We are all guilty of sinning with the tongue. Only our Lord is faultless "For He did no sin neither was guile found in His mouth". Note what James is saying v 2

"If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and also able to bridle the whole body."

If a man is spiritually mature, he can control his tongue. If he cannot control his tongue, he is not spiritually mature. Maturity is not that a person can pray wonderful prayers, or that they are a leader in the church. Or a loving, generous person. The real test of maturity is whether they can control the tongue.

Of course, James also writes, "The tongue can no man tame." That doesn’t mean that the tongue is untameable. It means it is untameable by man.

Only the Holy Spirit can tame a man’s tongue. That is why James makes the control of the tongue the acid test of maturity. If the Holy Spirit does not have control of a man’s tongue; He probably doesn’t have control of much else.

Beloved, we are being conformed to the image of Christ, but no believer is a finished product. The way we use our tongue is a good indicator of how far we have progressed on the path to maturity.

We need to make a personal confession because we stumble in so many ways. The words of Paul--

Phil 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

But this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

James is telling us that something small can steer something large. Compared to the size of a horse, a bit is relatively small. When a rider wants the horse to stop or to turn to the left or to the right, he pulls on the reins and the bit presses against the horse’s tongue, enabling the rider to control the whole body of the horse.

A horse controlled by a bit can be of good use, and an uncontrolled horse can do great damage. Interestingly enough, no horse has ever bridled himself. No horse has ever put a bit into his own mouth.

Psalm 39:1—". I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with   my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle."

V 4 Gives us another example of a large object being controlled by a small one.

James 3:4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Ships are large in size and driven by strong winds (sailing ships), but a small rudder can direct them. The one who controls the rudder determines the direction of the whole ship.

He can direct the ship wherever he wants it to go. Both of these illustrations show the importance of control at the right place.

Winds are necessary. A sailboat cannot get anywhere without them. A boat without a rudder is at the mercy of the winds, it has no direction and it will never make its destination. The implication in these illustrations from James is

The Strong winds are capable of causing the sailing craft to crash on the rocks. Friends none of us is immune from the storms of life. We need a rudder and the Master Pilot in control.

The winds blow to benefit us when Jesus is in control. But, if there is an unruly tongue the Lord is not at the wheel, and we are steering our own course.

The one who controls the rudder determines the direction of the whole ship. He can direct the ship wherever he wants it to go.

James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! The Tongue is so small, and yet it has so much potential. No wonder Solomon said.

Prov 18:21 "The Tongue has the power of life and death"

James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

An Uncontrolled Tongue Destroys A fire can begin with a little spark and it soon can destroy a great forest or a whole city. Fire can spread faster than we could ever imagine destroying millions of pounds of property

The words that we speak can start fires. How many people have had their reputations ruined by a careless word spoken? How many have spoiled their own testimony by the words that proceeded from their mouths. How many have destroyed a work for God by the things they have said?.

In some Churches there have been members, and those who were in office who could not control their tongue and the work was destroyed or retarded for years. It would have been better to have moved them out of the fellowship, so that the spirit of love and harmony could flourish and God’s blessing would be restored.

Like a fire the tongue can heat things up. A hot head and a hot heart can lead to a fiery tongue. There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he gets his brain a-going.

Benjamin Franklin A slip of the foot you may soon recover, but a slip of the tongue you may never get over. Learn to hold your tongue. Five words cost Zacharias forty weeks' silence. Solomon who wrote

Prov 17:27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.

An uncontrolled tongue can –Plot destruction, Practise deceit destroy reputations and wreck churches.

Let us never forget

An uncontrolled tongue becomes a tool of the devil. It becomes an instrument which he uses for accomplishing his purposes James is saying that the fire that is started with the tongue has hell as its power source.

James illustrates the tongue as having fierce passion. He informs us that man has been able to tame all sorts of animals; yet, the one thing that he hasn’t been able to tame is the tongue. James likens an uncontrolled, or untamed tongue to a demon possessed man. It is untamed, uncontrollable, and unruly.

James compares the untamed tongue to a serpent’s bite. Just as the bite of a snake can inject poison into our system, and pose a great danger to us, so a loosed tongue can inject poison of deceit, lies, and rumours?

Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Eph 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

Eph 4:31 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:

1. The Potential Of The Tongue. 2. The Penetration of the Tongue

3.The Power of the Tongue 4. The Passion of the Tongue 5. The Poison of the Tongue

The tongue has great influence others are listening to what we Christians say.

"Well, son, trying to pick up some pointers on gardening?"

When our hearts are right before God, our tongues will consistently speak more of those things that encourage, build up, and heal.

And when we do this, we will feel better about ourselves and we will make a real difference in the lives of others.

May we say with the Psalmist?

"I will take heed to my ways that I might not sin with my Tongue