[:en]SCRIPTURE: JAMES 3
“Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1)
“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” (James 3:5-6)
“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” (James 3:9-10)
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (James 3:16)
“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” (James 3:17-18)
At the beginning, James warned about the severe judgment to some immature Christians who tried to become teachers before they were ready. Then he used illustrations to show the power of tongue.
- The power to Guide (vs. 3-4) – Comparison was made on the bit in the mouth of horses and the rudder of a ship with the tongue. Horse needs the bit as a guide and ship needs the rudder for the pilot to steer. Our tongues need the Lord to direct and control them.
- The power to Destroy (vs. 5-8) – He compared the tongue with the fire in the forest. A small spark can set the forest on fire. Careless campers or smokers can kindle a little flame to a total ruin of a forest. Similarly, the tongue is like a flame. Gossiping and arguments can set a whole family and church on fire. Bitter, unkind, hurting, lying and slanderous words can destroy people. He also compared the tongue with animals. Some fierce and poisonous beast cannot be tamed. Likewise, no man can tame the tongue. Only God can control it through His Spirit. The tongue is restless evil full of deadly poison.
- The Power to Praise (vs. 9-12) – He asked these questions: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs? As a fountain cannot produce both fresh water and salt, so it is not fitting for a tongue to praise God and curse men.
2 Kinds of Wisdom:
- Earthly Wisdom (False Wisdom) – False wisdom belongs to the world, the flesh and the devil. It is manifested by envy, selfishnes, disorder and evil practices. This wisdom follows world ideas and contradicts God’s truth.
- Heavenly Wisdom (True Wisdom) – True wisdom comes from God by the Spirit. It is pure, peaceable, gentle, merciful, considerate, submissive, impartial and sincere. Wise people are not quick to judge or condemn. They are reasonable and self-controlled. They are willing to yield but they never compromise the truth.
LESSON;
Speech has two dimensions. It is a tool to build people up or it can became a weapon to destroy people. A Christian’s maturity is tested by how he speaks. Therefore, we should be careful on what we say and how we say. May we let the Holy Spirit control our speech. May we use our tongue to encourage, edify and comfort others. May we seek true wisdom from above and be a peacemaker.
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