Welcome to Refinery Life Australia.
This week we continue our series from the book of James titled The practical Expression of Our Faith in Daily Living.
Today we are talking about The Tongue Is a Terror.
Text
James 3:6 AMP
6 And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna).
Scripture Reading
James 3:1-12 (AMP)
The Tongue Is a Fire
3 Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly].
2 For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses].
3 Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well.
4 And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.
5 In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!
6 And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by hell (Gehenna).
7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and sea creatures, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.
8 But no one can tame the human tongue; it is a restless evil [undisciplined, unstable], full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God.
10 Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts].
11 Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
Prayer
In Jesus name we pray.
Amen.
Introduction
James had a lot to say about the tongue.
In fact, he devoted an entire section of his letter to it.
Even so, he was not introducing a new thought.
He spoke about the tongue earlier when he warned that we must be swift to hear and slow to speak in James 1:19.
In the same context, he exhorted us to bridle our tongues in b=verse 1:26, suggesting that they often have a tendency to run ahead of our thoughts.
Even though there are many references to the tongue throughout the Bible, James spoke more strongly about its dangers than any other Bible writer.
- James spoke of the power of the tongue, both from the standpoint of evil and of good.
He used three illustrations to prove the power of the tongue.
- In the first illustration, James drew a parallel between the horse and the human body.
A horse , unrestrained, seeks to satisfy its physical needs.
It is an illogical being.
If it is to accomplish anything useful, anything not merely for the satisfaction of its own desires, it must be directed by a logical being, a thinking person.
So it is with the human body.
Humans do not direct themselves, for if they do, they will seek the satisfaction of self instead of seeking the glory of God, which is the specific purpose for which they were created.
What is done to harness a horse?
We make use of a bit and a bridle.
By controlling its tongue, we can control the whole body.
The horse does not bridle itself, it must be bridled by someone else.
Likewise, people cannot control themselves.
They must defer to a greater power.
B. The second illustration James used has to do with ships.
James clearly didn’t know anything about the huge ocean going vessels of today, but even in his day there were ships that could be described as “great”.
How were the movements of these great vessels controlled, even under the most adverse conditions?
Verse 4 tells us, “By a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.”
The point of these two illustrations is made in verse 5, “In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.”
That is, in relation to the other members of the body, the tongue is little.
But it can achieve great results.
This is not an empty boast.
The tongue can sway people to violence or move them to the highest and noblest action.
C. The third illustration is found in the fire in verse 5.
“See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark!”
James contrasted the smallness of a spark with the greatness of the fire that can result.
2. James spoke about the vicious nature of the tongue.
- First, James said that “the tongue is a fire.”
We know that fire under control can be a great blessing.
With controlled fire, people can overcome the cold, cook their food, and drive industries.
But fire out of control leaves desolation and tragedy in its wake.
So the tongue, like fire out of control, scorches and consumes!
B. James then said that the tongue is “a world of iniquity.”
The word “world” translated here also means ornament or decoration.
The good and sanctified tongue will condemn unrighteousness, but the evil tongue will complement it and decorate it, making it appear as if it was righteous.
James concluded this metaphor by saying that the tongue that does this “is set on fire of hell.”
That is, the uncontrolled fire of the tongue is fed by the never dying flames of hell.
C. James said that the tongue is wild and untameable.
A person may control the tongue, but it must be ever kept under careful guard, the leash can never be removed from it.
3. James spoke of the inconsistency of the tongue.
- The tongue is notoriously inconsistent, James said.
With it we bless God and curse others who are made in God’s image.
He was saying that it is abnormal and inappropriate to bless God in prayer and praise yet speak evil of members of God’s family.
B. James illustrated this inconsistency with two figures drawn from nature in verses 11 and 12.
First is the figure of the fountain of water. “Is it possible for a salt spring to produce fresh water?”
The second figure concerns fruit.
“Can a fig tree yield olives, or a grape vine figs?”
That like produces like is a law of nature.
Conclusion.
An unbeliever hired a professing Christian to paint his house.
He knew that this Christian could pray beautiful prayers and quote a heap of Scripture.
But when it came to painting, he didn’t fill the nail holes with putty like he was supposed to, and he didn’t paint the tops of the doors where no one could see them.
The non Christian later said, “now I know that his prayers and his piety don’t mean much.
I prefer Christians who will fill up the nail holes and paint the tops of doors!”
What we say must be backed up with actions.
Until next time
Stay in the Blessings
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