Title James 3:1-12 untamed tongue
Contents
James 3:1-12 untamed tongue
- In James 1:26-27 we learned about three signs of a mature Christian, one of which was a man with a bridle on his tongue. The topic of today's text is also about the tongue. James was well aware of how profoundly the tongue affects our lives, and it is repeated twice in his epistles. Do you remember what you learned last week? It was “faith demonstrated by works.” Today, we will look at the counsel of the apostle James on our language life under the title of a person who does not make mistakes in speech.
1. Verse 1/ Warning against those who want to be teachers
. 1 My brethren, do not become many teachers, knowing that we who are teachers will receive a greater judgment.
- At the time of the Early Church, many people went out to teach the Word of God. However, unprepared teachers and false teachers abound. (cf. 1 Timothy 1:7, 2 Cor 2:17). Before seeking a teaching position, you must first prepare yourself to become a good teacher.
2. Verses 2-4/ Language and maturity
. 3:2 We all make many mistakes, and if anyone does not stumble in his words, he is a perfect man, able to bridle even his whole body. 3:4 Also, look at the ships, they are so great that they are swept away by the gust of wind.
3. Verses 5-6/ The destructive power of the tongue
. 3:5 In the same way the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. Behold, what a small fire burns how many trees 3:6 The tongue is a fire and a world of unrighteousness. It is burned with fire, and its devouring comes from the fire of hell
- We must keep in mind that our tongue has a formidable destructive power beyond what we simply think. A huge mountain turns to ashes in an instant with a single embers of a small butt that someone inadvertently discards. A large building becomes ashes in an instant due to a small spark caused by a short circuit. Even though it is such a small tongue, one life or countless lives can be destroyed in an instant by misusing this tongue.
- There are celebrities who have burned their lives in vain by misusing this little tongue. Yoo Seung-jun is a singer. One day, a thoughtless word caught his ankle. Entertainment activities in Korea are no longer possible. Even now, there is no point in trying so hard to come to Korea and promote. There are many politicians who have burned their political careers with just a few words that were casually thrown at them.
- Ahn oo Member of the National Assembly is such a case. If you just open your mouth, you are caught in a trap that you have been dealing with with leftist rhetoric. I didn't have to say that. But I didn't think much of it. However, he would not have thought that his words would eventually hold up his political career like this. It is a nonsensical word, but we must never forget that it can burn a human being, burn a group, or burn a country. Many people desperately hone their knowledge, neglecting the preparation of a much more important tongue. We have to live in control of our tongues every moment of every day. Know that a person who doesn't tame his tongue is like a gunpowder that never goes out. This is by no means something to be taken lightly.
4. Verses 7-8/ About how difficult it is to tame the tongue
. 3:7 All kinds of beasts, birds, worms, and living creatures of the sea can be tamed and have been domesticated; 3:8 no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
- All the beasts of this world seem to be able to be tamed by humans. It is admirable to see a tamed, loyal dog. It is amazing to see parrots and kites domesticated in zoos. Snakes can also be tamed. Even elephants can be tamed. Wild horses are also tamed. The wild beasts, tigers and lions, are also tamed through repeated training. As for the bugs, I don't know what kind of bugs are tamed. Sea creatures probably refer to dolphins, sea lions, etc. Animals of a completely different dimension from humans, who can't even speak a language, can be tamed, but it is hard to tame a human tongue.
- You can easily see how difficult it is to tame the tongue by looking at former President Roh Moo-hyun. He was a well-known master of horses. It is said that during his presidency, many State Councilors sweated as all meetings were conducted based on discussion rather than reports. It was his words that held the ankles of such a master of horses. His careless words were always a problem. In an interview, he even admitted that he was a well-prepared president in other fields, but he was too short on one 'careful use of language'. It clearly shows that taming the tongue is a difficult task. Be aware that the poison of a viper is hidden in an untamed tongue.
5. Verses 9-12/ Duality of the tongue
. 3:9 With this we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in the image of God. 3:10 Out of the same mouth come praise and curse. How can this one hole bring forth sweet and bitter water? 3:12 How can the fig tree produce olives, my brethren, and the vine produce figs? So salty water does not produce sweet water.
- There is nothing more double than the human tongue. Praise and curses pour out of one tongue. The spring of the earth produces only one sweet water if it is sweet and one bitter water if it is bitter. Trees also bear only one fruit. But the human tongue is not. A truly untrained tongue can never be trusted.
- The apostle James is admonishing Christians to use their tongues like Christians. But looking at the language of many saints, is that person a Christian? There are many people who have tongues that are not Christian enough to do that. So, what kind of tongue should the Christian tongue be?
I will close with two exhortations. The tongue of a mature Christian,
1) First, it must be a discreet tongue. Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders what to say, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil. Just think once more before you speak. And think about how the other person will understand this statement from the other person's point of view. And consider the benefit of saying this before you speak. (cf. Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 29:20)