4. Faith on Display in Your Conversations
Steven Yater
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“Who always leaves you encouraged when you talk with them?”
“Who always leaves you encouraged when you talk with them?”
“The pen is mightier than the sword.” Or maybe today we could day the “Keyboard is mightier than the gun.” I an sure we have all experienced the hurt and wounds that have come from someone’s words. Too many friendship, marriages and business opportunities have been ruined by poorly chosen words. It is hard to say I am sorry and make the hurt of past words disappear. As followers of Christ we need to be cautious with our words.
In James chapter 3, James addresses two main subject matters. The tongue and godly wisdom and out of the two he devotes more time to the tongue.
He takes us back to his statement in James 1.
26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.
While you could argue much of what James is speaking of here is aimed at the teachers in the church these things apply to all of us.
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
In verse 1 it says...
1 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
James wants teachers of God’s Word to realize the impact that they have on peoples lives and that teaching irresponsibly or in an unloving way can do more harm than good.
James includes himself in this statement saying, “we shall receive a stricter judgment.” Yes, we are responsible to God for what we say or don’t say, but we also place ourselves in a situation where people will judge do the things they say and do match.
2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.
James is quick to point out we all put our foot in our mouth. But that does not get us off the hook. It just means we need to be that much more cautious of our words and deeds.
James points out the tongue is small but mighty.
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
“When have you seen the power of words impact someone in positive ways?”
“When have you seen the power of words impact someone in positive ways?”
(Encouraging a child)
As James continues he points out our inconsistencies in that we use our words for good and evil. (Consistently, Inconsistent)
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
We say blessed be the name of the Lord then we look at human-beings made in the image of God and curse them, we curse the refection of God.
He points out our hypocrisy, we show our inconsistency.
“When have you seen the power of words cause harm to someone?”
“When have you seen the power of words cause harm to someone?”
(Telling someone they are not good enough.)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James has a great question in verse 13 followed by instruction.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.
We should all continue daily to ask am I being wise in my choices. If the answer is yes we should let it show through our good conduct. It should be a natural by product.
If you look at your self and evaluate that you are not being wise you will know it by verse 14.
14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.
If you are unwise you will lie against the truth. You will be bitter, you will envy what those around you have that you don’t have and you will be self-seeking or self-serving. You will seek to make yourself happy above anything or anyone else.
James warns...
15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.
If we lie against the truth, if we are bitter, if we are self seeking we are not wise, we are earthly- that speaks to our sin nature. We are sensual that speaks to our lust our desire to please self. We are demonic in our thoughts and deeds.
Wisdom is not something that comes with age it comes with spiritual maturity, many have died at a ripe old age and have never graced the world around them with a sign of godly wisdom.
16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.
Again, we see if envy and self-seeking behavior exist in our lives. We will have confusion in our lives and be afflicted by evil.
In verse 17 James will contrast the worlds wisdom to godly wisedom.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.
Pure : seperated from sin.
Peaceable: commitment to unity among the body of Christ.
Gentle: caring, considerate
Willing to yield: not willing to fight over small thing.
Full of mercy: able to show compassion for others.
Full of Good fruits: all of this should produce good out of your life.
Without Partiality: that takes us back to chapter 2 not showing people special favor because of who they are or are not.
Without Hypocrisy: being consistent, with integrity, your words (instructions) match your life.
James shows us in verse 18 the final result of living with godly wisdom.
18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Those who seek godly wisdom should seek peace. Do our words bring about peace or war?
“What effect has technology had on the way we use our words?”
“What effect has technology had on the way we use our words?”
“How does heavenly wisdom differ from earthly wisdom?”
“How does heavenly wisdom differ from earthly wisdom?”
LIVE IT OUT
LIVE IT OUT
God’s wisdom is available to help you gain control of your speech. Choose one of the following.
Memorize Philippians 4:8
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
2. Keep a gratitude journal. A study from the University of Central Florida found that keeping a gratitude journal for two weeks decreased gossip in the workplace. Begin a journal and spend a few minutes each day writing about people you are grateful for.
3. Apologize to someone you know you have hurt through gossip or sarcasm. Do what you can with a letter, phone call, or face-to-face meeting to seek forgiveness for words you have spoken.