James 3:1-6
It is good to be with you again today. Thank you for joining us on Hope for Today. It is always good to learn from the Word of God. As you have heard me mention, James is full of practical wisdom, and today’s lesson is no exception. This lesson is about how we use our tongues and words. Most of us do this often daily; almost every interaction we have with other people involves talking, but how usually do we think about our words? And how much do we think about the impact of our words on other people?
Yes, I know many don’t care how their words affect others. Those people are self-centered and think only of themselves. Followers of Christ will not be so self-centered. This means we will care about our speech and its effect on others. We know we are accountable to God for our words and our actions. This means it matters, and we watch what we say.
J Mark will teach us practical lessons about our speech and the words we use. If you can, turn to James chapter 3 for today’s lesson.
James chapter three deals with how we use our tongue and the words we speak. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 and 37, “But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the Day of Judgment. For by your words, you shall be justified, and by your words, you shall be condemned.”
Our text for today gives a warning to us as followers of Christ. That’s proof there are things we can say that are at the least inappropriate and, at the worst, very destructive. I summarize James’s instruction in this passage titled “Watch Your Mouth.” Our text is James 3:1-6.
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in words, he is a perfect man who can also bridle the whole body.
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 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.
5 Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 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.
Looking at our text, we discover several KINDS of words that will help us heed James’ counsel and “Watch Your Mouth.”
The First KIND of Words is,
Words of Wisdom
James introduces words of wisdom with an intriguing statement. He says, “Don’t be quick to desire the position of a teacher. Remember that those who teach will be held to a higher standard of judgment.” Jesus warned his disciples, “Be not called Rabbi (or Teacher): for one is your Master, even Christ; and you are all brethren.”
A teacher gives information and is likely to speak more than others. Proverbs 10:19 reminds us, “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.” The more we talk, the more likely we’ll say something we shouldn’t.
The position of influence God has entrusted to me gives me a greater responsibility before Him. I will be held to a higher standard because my platform can influence many people. The opportunity to teach God’s Word is a beautiful privilege but also a tremendous responsibility. I appreciate those holding me accountable for speaking accurately and compassionately.
In verse two, James reminds us that we are all prone to error, especially in our words. He states that a Christian who can avoid sinning by carefully regulating his speech should be considered a perfect man, a mature Believer. He is not sinless but thoroughly committed to honoring God in all his words and actions.
James says that the person who can control their speech will also be able to control other desires of their body! If you are so controlled by the Spirit of God that you can refrain from sinning with your words, you can most likely keep your other desires in check by the Spirit’s power.
Too many 21st-century Christians don’t realize the connection between physical desires and spiritual disciplines! We think we can gratify one desire to excess without affecting other desires. James says, no, they’re all connected, and that the ability to control our speech stands at the top, or at least near the top, of the list.
When conversing with someone, I am tempted to say something negative about another person. And I get this check in my spirit; “J. Mark, you don’t need to say that.” I know it’s from the Lord. James says that if I learn to obey God when He checks my words, I’ll be more likely to follow that check in my spirit in other areas.
Paul reminds us in Colossians 4:6; “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” Show me a person whose words are gracious and kind, and I’ll show you someone genuinely qualified to teach others. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 12:11, “The words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.”
A goad is a sharp, pointed stick that motivates oxen to do their work. Wise words, spoken with grace, inspire change in our lives. Wise words are also like nails used by a builder to fasten things together. Wise words join the truth in our hearts and give us a framework to build our lives.
What James presents in these verses is part of that framework of truth. His words of wisdom should provoke us to action. So, watch your mouth, especially as you observe the connection between controlling your speech and your other desires.
The Second KIND of Words is,
Words of Warning
If we compare the size of our tongue with other body members, it doesn’t seem like it could be hazardous. James must have realized that those who read his letter would come to that same conclusion, so he gave us the illustrations in verses three and four.
A horse is a big, strong animal. He’s capable of doing many things with his strength, and unless he’s trained to respond to voice commands, you need some way of controlling all that energy and power. Think about the bit that is put into the horse’s mouth. That piece of metal isn’t significant in comparison to the body of the horse, but it tells him who is in control.
Then, there are the ships. The ships of James’ day would be pretty small by today’s standards. For example, the Exxon Valdez tanker that ran aground in Prince William Sound off Alaska some years ago was considered a mid-sized tanker. It was 967 feet (295 meters) long and 165 feet (50 meters) long. It weighed 30,000 tons empty.
I don’t know the exact size of the rudder on the Valdez, but it is small compared to the size of the ship. The captain could control that huge ship using the rudder. But he failed to do so; the ship ran aground, spilled part of its cargo, and he was convicted of negligence. Just like the captain failed to control the boat with the rudder, we, too, can lose control of our lives by negligence with our tongues.
That’s what James says in verse five. The tongue is small compared to other body parts in our human anatomy. Yet, it is likely to be boastful and arrogant. These are symptoms of a prideful heart, and we can be sure they will eventually cause trouble. Our words set in motion a course of action that can be very destructive.
Verse five closes with the warning, “Take note, this smallest member of the body can set a large forest on fire.” Just as a careless spark can start a massive forest fire, a careless word can start a vast blaze of controversy and destruction in our human relationships. If we are going to be successful in having faith that works, we must take these words of warning to heart: ” Watch your mouth.”
The Final KIND of Words is,
Words of Wickedness
In the final verse of our text, James says, “The tongue is a fire…” This compares two unrelated subjects and raises some powerful analogies. Think about fire, about all its benefits, but also all its dangers. Then, transfer those ideas to the tongue and consider their positive and negative impact on human relationships.
Our text further tells us that the tongue is a world of iniquity. What does that mean? The world (kosmos) means an orderly arrangement, a system. So, the tongue has a design of its own. That design is to promote iniquity. What is iniquity? Here’s how Jesus used this word.
“Not everyone that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me that day, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name, have you done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity.” That’s Matthew 7:21-23.
Based on Jesus’ words, iniquity is doing good works with the wrong motivation. Some things I’ve done that looked good to others would qualify as iniquity. I was guilty of saying and doing the right things for the wrong reasons. Only works of genuine faith, springing from godly motives, will be rewarded. Good works done for selfish reasons will be burned up.
The tongue is so powerful among the members of our body that it has the potential to affect our character, our reputation, and our entire being. Words hurt deeply. Harsh and bitter words are like a poison that goes to the very core of our being. One careless word, like a lightning strike, can reveal what is in our hearts. That “strike” can create a tremendously destructive fire.
He closes by saying that the tongue is ignited by the fires of hell itself. James refers to the valley of Hinnom outside Jerusalem. It was a smoldering garbage dump, like the smoldering evil that resides in the heart of every human being, which is the source of this wickedness.
As we consider James’s instruction, let’s take these words of wisdom to heart: control your tongue. Let’s heed his warning; a careless word can start a raging fire. Let’s realize the source of wicked words: that smoldering evil that lies within our hearts. Let’s pray with the Psalmist, “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practice wicked works with men that work iniquity…” By God’s grace and the enabling of the Holy Spirit, make it your goal to “Watch Your Mouth.”
Thanks, J Mark, for sharing this practical teaching with us. We all know what it is like to say something we shouldn’t have, and if you are like me, you know there is room for improvement in the words you use. The challenge is to keep working on it, and our desire is for you to become more like Jesus. He is the one we imitate, and thankfully, He is close by every one of us to help us out when needed.
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Thanks so much for joining us for today’s teaching. Lord willing, I hope you can join us again next week. I will close the program with Jesus’ words, which J Mark shared at the beginning of his teaching. This is the foundation for why we care about our speech. He said, “For by your words, you shall be justified, and by your words, you shall be condemned.” Blessings as you go and live like Jesus.
*This episode is an exposition by J. Otis Yoder, re-recorded by J. Mark Horst, with an opening and closing by Arlin Horst.