Passage 3-5James 3:1-12
Have you ever been hung by your tongue? Sometimes our tongues can get us into a lot of trouble
It was his first day on the job. He was a new clerk in the green goods department of a super market. A lady came up to him and said she wanted to buy half of a head of lettuce. He tried to dissuade her from that goal, but she persisted. Finally he said, "I’ll have to go back and talk to the manager." He went to the rear of the store to talk to the manager, 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 some stupid old bag 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, added, "And this nice lady wants to buy the other half of the head of lettuce. Will it be all right?" Relieved, the manager said, "That would be fine." Later in the day, he congratulated the boy on his quick thinking and asked, "Where are you from, son?" The boy said, "I’m from Toronto, Canada, the home of beautiful hockey players and ugly women." The manager replied, "My wife is from Toronto" — to which the boy said, "Oh, what team did she play for?"
Have you ever been hung by your tongue? Sometimes our tongues can get us into a lot of trouble
It was his first day on the job. He was a new clerk in the green goods department of a super market. A lady came up to him and said she wanted to buy half of a head of lettuce. He tried to dissuade her from that goal, but she persisted. Finally he said, "I’ll have to go back and talk to the manager." He went to the rear of the store to talk to the manager, 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 some stupid old bag 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, added, "And this nice lady wants to buy the other half of the head of lettuce. Will it be all right?" Relieved, the manager said, "That would be fine." Later in the day, he congratulated the boy on his quick thinking and asked, "Where are you from, son?" The boy said, "I’m from Toronto, Canada, the home of beautiful hockey players and ugly women." The manager replied, "My wife is from Toronto" — to which the boy said, "Oh, what team did she play for?"
Tongues can get us into a lot of trouble. And so can the tongues of others. Three pastors went fishing together in the northern wilderness of Canada. While they were there they began to talk about their innermost thoughts. One confessed that he had been guilty of certain sins. He named them, and then he urged the other two to confess their weaknesses. The second pastor confessed that he too, had certain weaknesses and recounted them in detail. The third pastor remained silent for a long time. Finally when pressed by his fellow elders to reveal his weaknesses, he said, "Brethren, I don’t think you want to know my weaknesses, but since you insist, I am going to tell you. I just love to gossip, and I can hardly wait to get home."
Sometimes what out tongues say is funny — sometimes it is not. Our tongues can, at times, hurt us and others. As we have seen, sometimes the tongue in say things we don’t mean. The problem comes when the tongue says things we do mean, but things we ought not to say. Someone once said, "We should remember that the tongue is in a wet place, and can slip easily." God certainly knew what he was doing when he put our tongues in a cage behind our teeth, walled in by our mouths. The Bible has a lot to say about the negative things our tongues can cause. The Bible refers to a wicked tongue, a deceitful tongue, a lying tongue, a filthy tongue, a corrupt tongue, a bitter tongue, a gossiping tongue, a blaspheming tongue, a boasting tongue, a murmuring tongue, a complaining tongue, a cursing tongue, a contentious tongue. It should be apparent, with this much about the tongue, that the tongue is a very important member of the human body.
Sometimes what out tongues say is funny — sometimes it is not. Our tongues can, at times, hurt us and others. As we have seen, sometimes the tongue in say things we don’t mean. The problem comes when the tongue says things we do mean, but things we ought not to say. Someone once said, "We should remember that the tongue is in a wet place, and can slip easily." God certainly knew what he was doing when he put our tongues in a cage behind our teeth, walled in by our mouths. The Bible has a lot to say about the negative things our tongues can cause. The Bible refers to a wicked tongue, a deceitful tongue, a lying tongue, a filthy tongue, a corrupt tongue, a bitter tongue, a gossiping tongue, a blaspheming tongue, a boasting tongue, a murmuring tongue, a complaining tongue, a cursing tongue, a contentious tongue. It should be apparent, with this much about the tongue, that the tongue is a very important member of the human body.
So, how can we avoid being hung by our tongues? In this passage from James, we can see three keys that will enable us to keep our tongue from becoming a noose around our neck.
Never Underestimate Its Power
Most people seriously underestimate the power of the tongue. That is a mistake. We must never underestimate its power. James tells us that the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. And there is good reason for that. It is powerful.
Most people seriously underestimate the power of the tongue. That is a mistake. We must never underestimate its power. James tells us that the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. And there is good reason for that. It is powerful.
It has the power to control our lives. James gives us the examples of horses and ships. Look at verses 3-4:
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
James is telling us that something small can steer something large. In much the same way our tongues direct our lives. They control the direction in which we are traveling. And so, in a very real way, they control our lives. That’s power! Our words have a tremendous impact both on ourselves and on the others. They can encourage or discourage, heal or hurt. Whoever said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" must have been deaf.
3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.
James is telling us that something small can steer something large. In much the same way our tongues direct our lives. They control the direction in which we are traveling. And so, in a very real way, they control our lives. That’s power! Our words have a tremendous impact both on ourselves and on the others. They can encourage or discourage, heal or hurt. Whoever said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" must have been deaf.
Another thing about the tongue — it has the power to corrupt our lives. Look at verses 5a-6:
Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
What a terrible picture of the tongue! James tells us that the tongue is like a fire that consumes everything in its path. Just as great forests are destroyed by the careless toss of a match, so our tongues can destroy our lives as well.
James tells us that the tongue is a world of evil. He tells us that it is a corrupting force. He says that it is itself set on fire by hell. These are strong statements. But James is trying to make an important point. Never underestimate the power of the tongue to hurt you. It can destroy what you have. It can destroy who you are. In verse 8, James calls the tongue a restless evil, full of deadly poison. Beware the power of the tongue. Never underestimate it.
Never Turn It Loose
We must not only never underestimate the power of the tongue but we must also never turn it loose. Something with this much destructive power must be carefully watched and consistently controlled. If we let our tongues run wild, we will be hung by our tongue.
We must not only never underestimate the power of the tongue but we must also never turn it loose. Something with this much destructive power must be carefully watched and consistently controlled. If we let our tongues run wild, we will be hung by our tongue.
I once lived with a family on a small ranch. They had some cattle and horses. And, of course, there was a bull. While I was there I had to do my part in taking care of the animals. Some of the horses were in the barn in stalls and I had to feed them. One day I was down at the barn getting some feed for the horses. As I came out of one of the stalls, I sensed that there was something standing behind me. I slowly turned and found that I was facing the bull. What I experienced next was a great adrenaline rush. I must have looked like the bionic man as I jumped over the door to the stall.
There is an old saying that applies to situations like the one I found myself in. "It is the unwatched bull that gores you." When you live on a farm or a ranch, make sure you know where the bull is at all times.
Our tongue is like that. It must be guarded at all times. If we do not guard our tongues, they will run wild. We must be on constant watch. We must be on guard.
Proverbs 21:23 says, He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity.
James reminds us that we must treat the tongue like a wild animal that is incapable of being domesticated.
James reminds us that we must treat the tongue like a wild animal that is incapable of being domesticated.
David prayed in Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of my lips." The Lord has to give you the power to control your tongue.
When our hearts are right before God, our tongues will more consistently speak 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.
by J. David Hoke
by J. David Hoke