James 3:1-12 hits the proverbial nail on the head when it comes to the hellish usage of the human tongue. As painful as it is to face, James is teaching us here that our words provide a barometer of our spiritual condition, for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.
In James 1:26, we were told that any individual who claims to be religious but has no control over his words is deceived and their professed faith is vain. Worthless. Of no value. Contrary to the worldly saying that words can never hurt me, in James 3:6, the uncontrolled human tongue is described as “a fire,” and as “a world of evil”.
In verse 8, we learn that the tongue is “a restless evil,” and is “full of deadly poison.” The fact that we can poison others with our words is staggering. The fact that the tongue is a restless evil is staggering. The very source, or igniting influence of the untamed tongue is hell itself.
James 3 can be called “Tongues from hell.” The fact that we can use our tongues to advance the kingdom of darkness is staggering. What brother James is telling us here is that the uncontrolled and hellish use of the tongue is counter to how God designed it to be used by those who are new creatures in Christ (James 1:18).
Talkative in Pilgrim’s Progress is described as “a saint abroad, and a devil at home”. Some people are worshipper of God in the sanctuary, but a gossiper or slanderer of image bearers of God like a devil on Monday. That’s the glaring inconsistency that James is talking about. There is good news for those of us with tongue problems. I may not be able to bridle my tongue, but God’s Spirit can and will, when I yield my mouth unto Him.
Psa 141:3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. David declared in Psalm 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Psa 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
Saints, we can and do choose the words that come out of our mouth. Acts 2 speaks of tongues set on fire from heaven above. James 3 speaks of tongues set on fire by hell. Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. SELAH
Matthew 12:36-37 - But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
Koinonia Fellowship
Sundays at 8:30a and 10:30a
500 Main St. East Rochester, NY 14445
