August 19, 2018
Morning Service

In the first part of James chapter 2 we were instructed to “be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to wrath,” to be a “doer of the Word and not a hearer only,” and not to show partiality to anyone.  We finished the chapter last Sunday morning on what I felt was a very powerful message on faith and works.  James told us you can’t have one without the other.  True faith will create God glorifying works that come from a heart of love and gratitude.  Sunday night then we read through the “faith hall of fame” chapter (Hebrews 11) and looked at how each of those mentioned indeed proved James true.  Those stories of faith are there to inspire us to “lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1)

James 3:1 My brothers, do not be many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

·        In the Jewish culture being a teacher was a highly valued and respected profession.  Many who chose to be a Jesus follower also desired to become teachers of this new found way of life.  Teaching or being in any position of authority in the church comes with a grave responsibility and should not be entered into lightly.  Paul instructed Timothy to “Preach the Word” not his opinions, personal views or convictions.  James tells us that those who teach will be held to a greater and stricter level of accountability.  It is one thing to choose for yourself to go in the wrong direction, but to encourage others to follow will bring a stronger judgement.   As Jesus was speaking about receiving little children, He said this:

 Matthew 18:6  But whoever shall offend one of these little ones who believes in Me, it would be better for him that an ass's millstone were hung around his neck, and he be sunk in the depth of the sea.

·        Who then would want to teach at all?  That is why when we asked for teachers we ask for only those who feel they are being called to it.  If God wants you to teach He will place a calling upon your heart that you can’t get away from.  The calling, if followed, will help you to overcome any fear that arises knowing that if God calls you to the task He will be sure and enable you to succeed.  The key is that when teaching, preaching or being in a place of authority in the church we always seek out the Holy Spirit to guide us along the right path.  Stay in the Word and stay true to what you read.

·        James now switches gears and returns to the issue of our tongue.

 

James 3:2-5  For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not offend in word, the same is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.  (3)  Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, so that they may obey us, and we turn about their whole body.  (4)  Behold also the ships being so great, and driven by fierce winds, yet they are turned about with a very small rudder, where the impulse of him steering desires.  (5)  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Behold how little a fire kindles how large a forest!

·        We can all say amen to that!  We all may try, but we are unable to keep our tongue from offending.  We say things before we think, spread gossip, brag on ourselves, complain, or even tell a lie and any one of those things can start a large fire!

 

James 3:6-8  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. So the tongue is set among our members, that it defiles the whole body and sets on fire the course of nature, and being inflamed by hell.  (7)  For every kind of animals, and of birds, and of reptiles, and of sea-animals, is tamed, and has been tamed by mankind.  (8)  But no one can tame the tongue; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

·        An uncontrolled tongue can be the devil’s workshop if we are not careful to be “slow to speak” as James had instructed us already.  He compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire whose wickedness comes directly from hell itself.  It can start like a wildfire and spread destruction so quickly that no one can stop the results once the words are spoken.  Words once spoken cannot be taken back.  Many marriages, churches and close friendships have been destroyed by a small spark that came from the tongue.  It is something that we will always have to battle.  It is not a vice that we can check off and say “yeah I’m done with that I have full control of my tongue now.”  One weak moment and we can start a fire that we could battle for the rest or our lives.   James continues:

 

James 3:9-12 By this we bless God, even the Father. And by this we curse men, who have come into being according to the image of God.  (10)  Out of the same mouth proceeds blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.  (11)  Does a fountain send forth at the same hole the sweet and the bitter?  (12)  Can the fig tree, my brothers, bear olive berries; or a vine, figs? So no fountain can yield both salt water and fresh.

·        James here explains the quandary that our tongue often puts us in.  With the same voice we sing praises to our Lord and then curse the driver who cuts us off in traffic.  Where does this come from, why do we contradict ourselves so often?  Jesus explains this very quandary to Pharisees in Matthew’ gospel. 

 

Matthew 12:34-36 Offspring of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.  (35)  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings out good things; and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings out evil things.  (36)  But I say to you that every idle word, whatever men may speak, they shall give account of it in the Day of Judgment.

·        Our words reflect the condition of our heart.  It is from the heart that our words originate.  The quandary of our words actually is just displaying the quandary in our heart.  Though we strive to be perfect, we are not.  We are still just sinners saved by grace and whether we like it or not our emotions sometimes overrule our heart and provoke our tongue to speak unfiltered.  However, if my tongue is constantly speaking unfiltered then I have a heart issue that needs to be dealt with.  Am I yielding myself totally to following Jesus or is there a part of the world that I just can’t let go of?  Be very aware that if your speech is unfiltered your witness for Christ will suffer.  By speaking both blessing and cursing you greatly hinder the impact of your words especially those that you use to try to share Christ with others.  James is just making us aware of this issue so we can be dealing with it before rather than after.

·        What we can do is guard what our heart hears and sees.  It is rare to watch a movie today that is not filled with language that we do not allow to be spoken in our home, but invite it into our heart through our television and radio.  What goes in is sometimes is what comes out.  If we find that to be true then we must choose to follow Jesus’ teaching of plucking out our eye if it causes us to sin.  Choose to not watch those movies or turn your radio dial to a Christian station.  Feed your heart what is good, pure and holy and your words will reflect it.

·         Just as our words can tear down, they also can build up.  Words of encouragement and gratitude can become building blocks in someone’s life and in your relationship with them.  Just as the tongue can start a fire for evil, it also can start a fire for good.  Look for things that you appreciate in others and tell them.  I know in my life words of encouragement can be like wind in my sails inspiring me to strive even higher.

 

In summary, if God calls you to teach trust Him and follow but realize it comes with responsibility to only teach the truth.  Our tongue is something we will deal with our whole lives, it can never be tamed.  Work to make your heart pure and your words will follow.  Choose to build up others with your words rather than to tear them down.

 

Heavenly Father, create in us a clean heart and allow it to make our words one that build up rather than to tear down.