James Week 7 - Tongue and Wisdom
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Passage
Passage
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Intro
Intro
James chapter 3 hits two main topics
The Tongue
Wisdom
The Tongue
The Tongue
James' point is that loose talk and self-control are interconnected. Once a word is spoken, we can't take it back. While we may not attack someone with our fists, our words can still cause major damage even from far away. Our tongue can speak blessing and cursing, life and death. Jesus tells us our mouth speaks about what ultimately fills our heart (Luke 6:45).
The problem with our tongue, then, is really a problem with our heart.
When we turn our heart to Jesus, he changes our words. Our tongue then glorifies God. Only Jesus can tame our tongue.
Church scholars believe that in the early church, any member of the church was allowed to teach. They took turns taking on the role, which gives James 3:1 great significance. Why would many of them (and us) want to teach? - It is seen respected and important, so James makes the argument that you there is greater judgment when it comes to leading people
What does Romans 12:6-7 reveal about the role of teaching?
6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
In James 3:3-4 James uses two common descriptive words in the metaphors for the tongue - guided, and obeyed
What does James imply is the role of our tongue in relation to our personality and actions? How does Proverbs 18:21 reinforce this idea?
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
While James shows us the function of the tongue in verses 3-4, he writes of the destructiveness of an unrestrained tongue in verses 6-8. There are eight descriptive words James uses about the tongue
Fire
World of unrighteousness
Staining the whole body
Setting on fire the entire course of life
Set on fire by hell
No human being can tame the tongue
It is a restless evil
Full of deadly poison
When you read these descriptions consecutively, what common imagery do you see? How does James use this imagery to give weight to the destructive power of the tongue?
Double-mindedness is a common theme in James (1:10-11; 4:8). In James 3:9-12, we see our ability to be "double-tongued." How do Genesis 1:26 and 1 John 4:20 elaborate on why James says "this should not be?" (v. 10)
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
Wisdom
Wisdom
True wisdom can be seen by what it produces. Just as you can identify a tree by its fruit (Matt. 12:33), you can see wisdom—or lack of it—by attitudes of the heart that are shown through action. James distinguishes true wisdom from above by comparing and contrasting it with worldly wisdom.
According to verse 13, how do you know who a wise person is?
What attitudes of the heart are coupled with worldly wisdom? (Vs 14)
How does James describe worldly wisdom and what fruit does it produce? (vs 15-16)
List the virtues James attributes to true wisdom. (vs 17)
What will be produced as a result of sowing seeds of peace rather than conflict? (vs 18)
Questions
Questions
Big things come in small packages. Rudders steer the entire ship. A small metal bar controls an animal that can weigh 1,000 pounds. A small spark can burn down an entire forest of trees. What have been some times in your life when a small word or act of the tongue caused huge ramifications (good or bad)? How has language changed the entire course of your life? (possible phrases: I do, It's cancer, I'm sorry, You're fired).
Your tongue has the ability to build up or tear down. It can be used to give life or to bring death. Scripture encourages us to use our tongues for good:
Read Ephesians 4:29 and Ephesians 5:1
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
Read Proverbs 10:19-21 and Proverbs 17:27
19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver;
the heart of the wicked is of little worth.
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.
27 Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Read Ephesians 4:1-3
1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
What good is described in these verses? How do these verses help show us how to use our tongue?
Do you find yourself excusing your sinful words or apologizing for them? What methods do you use to control your tongue? How might focusing on Jesus help us speak wisely?
If we recognize pride or selfish ambition in our hearts, what would you suggest we do about them?
Share a time in your life when you gleaned wisdom from experience. Did you choose to follow godly wisdom instead of conventional wisdom? What did you learn? How did you become wiser from that experience?
In what ways are you tempted to compare yourself with others? Does this manifest itself in pride or despair in your life?
Have you allowed bitterness to take root in your heart? Do you feel resentment toward another person because they have something you feel like you deserve?
Is there unresolved conflict in your life in which God is calling you to make peace?
