Small But Mighty

Two major issues: speech and power.

They sometimes go hand in hand and sometimes they do not. We are fortunate we have, at least right now, the freedom of speech. Yet, it is not uncommon for those in power to try and restrict speech and conversation.

Lord Acton: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” Said in 1887 in a letter to a friend.

Lent is a reminder-from dust we came and to dust we will go.

This is a good reminder, a needed reminder.

Job 1:21 (NIV)

and said:

“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,

and naked I will depart.

The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;

may the name of the Lord be praised.”

If we can remember these words the issues of power and speech can be harnessed.

We all sin in many ways.

Sin is commonplace. This should not surprise us to some extent. Especially those who are not following Jesus sin will be the natural course of life, it will be the habit. Name a sin and someone is struggling with this. James wants us to be clear about this.

A sin common to all—the sin of the tongue.

Maturity comes with being able to control our speech but this is not soemthing we every get “rid” of. In the list of sins found in Galatians 6 and other places we see the reminder of how sins of the tongue manifest: envy, rage, slander, dissensions, jealousy, gossip and the like.

Those in leadership have great influence.

Think of one of your favorite teachers growing up. I have my own list including: Mrs. Chandler, Mrs. S (for shorty), Mr. Brown, Mr. Lael and Mr. Engel.

Leaders, especially pastors, have a greater judgment.

I am going to be judged by every word I speak and concept I bring to the church. Words have eternal consequence, especially for leaders and pastors. I believer there is at least one person who is called into the ministry in our church but the call is not without responsibility and weight.

Words heal and destroy.

Which may be the nature of your words. We see this in our passage with the many images James brings to the forefront.

Matthew 12:36 (NIV)

But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.

Look at the words of Jesus, which I think James is very aware of.

For Christ followers-we cannot curse/demean another person.

This is contrary to what it means to be controlled by Jesus and His Spirit. James uses a great analogy of water and also very strong words to say: “Absolutely not this should be impossible.” How do we curse others.

Let us give up cynicism.

Cynicism breads distrust of anyone else’s motives but your own. Being cynical leads us to believe little lies because they “sound good”.

Let us give up criticalness.

A sibling of cynicism is a spirit of criticalness. This is not the same as criticism which can be positive and helpful. Criticalness is a negative attitude which focuses on what a person is not doing or is doing which is not right. Both of these will suck the life out of a person or church.

Both seek to not truly understand but instead “inform others first”.

Both place self over others. Self over God.

This is what our words can reveal, who is more important.

Speech left alone leads to greater sins and abuse of power.

James 1:15 NIV

Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Let us put on wisdom.

This is where James is trying to remind us: there is a wisdom of God and then a wisdom of Hell.