The Study of James: Chapter 3:1-18

July 28, 2009

~Denise Grant

 

James 3:1– “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” Teaching was a highly valued and respected profession in Jewish culture and many Jews who embraced Christianity wanted to become teachers. James warned that although it’s good to desire to teach, the teachers’ responsibility is great because their words can greatly affect the spiritual lives of others. If you happen to be in a teaching or leadership position, how is your example affecting those you lead?

 

James 3:2 – “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.”

What you say and what you don’t say are both important. Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time, but controlling the urge to say what you should not.

 

James 3:3-4 – “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 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.” Examples of wrongly using the tongue include bragging, complaining, exaggerating, flattering, gossiping, lying, manipulating, and putting others down. Come on, admit it – something we’ve all done – and aren’t always proud of! Pastor Keith says, before we speak, we need ask of ourselves, “Is it true, is it necessary, and is it kind?”

 

James 3:5-6 – “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 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.” James compares the damage our tongue can do to a raging fire – the tongue’s wickedness has its source in hell itself!  Our uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage! Satan uses our tongue to divide people and pit them against one another. Worthless words are damaging as they spread destruction quickly - damage that cannot be stopped or mended once they are spoken.

 

James 3:7-8 – “All kinds of animals, bird, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison”. A few words you speak in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build. Before you speak, remember your words are like fire – you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do. Use them wisely with great planning.

 

James 3:9-12 – “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.” It is better to fight a fire than to go around setting new ones!  Remember that we are not fighting the tongue’s fire in our own strength. The Holy Spirit will give you increasing power to monitor and control what you say. As a Christian, none of us are perfect, but it should be our desire to never stop growing and learning.

 

James 3:13-16 – “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ does not come down from heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, and, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. At times, what we say is right and pleasing to God and we’re quite happy with ourselves, right? But at other times, it is violent and destructive and we’re more than ashamed! Our tongue gives the world a picture of who we really are down deep inside. It’s our basic human nature. We’re each made in God’s image; but we’re also bad – fallen and sinful.. Once we accept Christ, He begins a work in us to change us from the inside out. As the Holy Spirit purifies our hearts, He also gives us self-control so that we will speak words that please God.

 

James 3:17-18 – “But wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.” Have you ever known anyone who claimed to be wise, but acted rather foolishly? True wisdom can be measured by the depth of one’s character. As you can identify a tree by the type of fruit it produces, you can evaluate your wisdom by the way you act. Foolishness leads to disorder, but wisdom leads to peace and goodness.

 

Father God,

 

     At times, it’s difficult to control our tongue. We seem to say what we want and what we feel and without regard or thought of how it may effect those around us. Open our eyes and seal our mouths before we spew words or actions that are displeasing to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Denise Grant - Just "clay" in the Master Potter's hands.

 

"If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under." ~Ronald Reagan

 

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14