Faming the Tongue

James 3:2 KJV 1900

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Left unchecked, a person's tongue can easily get out of control. (How many times have you said something that you wished you could take back?) And when our speech gets out of control, great damage can follow. This lesson will challenge you as a teacher to use your tongue in ways that glorify God.

As Teens you are particularly influenced by the words of others. As you hear bad language or other inappropriate speech, you may tend to follow those examples, falling into ungodly habits. Some find it difficult to control their words used in anger, and many are tempted to gossip or to disrespect others with their speech. Your words can encourage teens to seek God's help in controlling their words as they continue to grow in their faith.

Option I—Tongue Twister Competition

Steps

1 Write the following tongue twisters on the board. Or use three others of increasing difficulty for each round.

• Round 1 : Three free throws.

• Round 2: Three gray geese in the green grass grazing.

• Round 3: The great Greek grape growers grow great Greek grapes.

2. Organize the class into pairs. Give partners a few seconds to practice each tongue twister. For each round, each pair has 30 seconds to say the twister as many times as possible while staying in sync.

Record the number of in-sync, clear repetitions for each pair. At the end of round 3, count up the points to declare the winning pair. Or declare separate winners for each round. Give prizes to the winners.

3. Discuss trying to control one's tongue.

ASK: Why are tongue twisters difficult?

ASK: How difficult is controlling what we say to and about others?

ASK: To what might you compare your struggle to control your words?

4. Transition to the Bible lesson.

Tongue twisters are a fun way to think about controlling your tongue. Of course, when James wrote about taming the tongue, he meant something entirely different. Sometimes controlling our speech is even more difficult than saying tongue twisters. This Lesson will help you understand the importance of taming your tongue for God's glory.

Gather

• Resource 41 -RI 2 through 41-R14.

James 3:1–12 KJV 1900

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

Following a vivid and practical explanation of faith and works, James tackled the subject of controlling our speech. Not only will true, living faith be shown through good works but it will also be shown through appropriate words.

The Tongue as an Instrument of Instruction

James addressed teachers (masters) to begin his discussion of the tongue.

ASK: How has a teacher had an impact on your spiritual life?

A. The seriousness of teaching

In the first century Roman world, teachers held places of influence and power in the secular world. They were revered and honored. For that reason, many believers sought to become teachers in their churches. They wanted the honor associated with teaching others. So James gave all the church members seeking teaching positions a warning.

James 3:1 KJV 1900

My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

James pictured unqualified teachers who were motivated by pride and who regularly gathered students to hear their teaching. Such teachers wielded life-altering influence with their tongues. Since the tongue is so hard to tame, they had to be extra careful they were teaching from humble, Spirit-led hearts and with their students' spiritual growth in mind.

No doubt some of the unqualified and selfishly motivated teachers used their tongues as instruments of confusion and even deception rather than education and edification. God will judge such teachers with a keen awareness of how they affected others. For the erring teachers, that judgment will mean loss of reward rather than loss of salvation.

James didn't intend to discourage individuals from teaching but rather to help them understand the serious responsibility teachers hold.

B. The standard for Teachers

Those whom God has gifted to teach must rely on the Holy Spirit's help for teaching truthfully and accurately

Ephesians 4:11 KJV 1900

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Paul told Timothy to diligently study the Word of God so he could rightly understand and teach the Scripture

2 Timothy 2:15 KJV 1900

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

The Holy Spirit's work in illuminating Scripture and guiding teachers on how to share it effectively and accurately means teachers can anticipate standing unashamed before Christ to receive rewards for their faithful service.

James 3:2 KJV 1900

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

We all sin at times, especially with our speech. Since our words are particularly difficult to control, believers who have learned to manage the tongue have most likely learned control over the rest of the body as well. Obviously, no one is perfect, but one who can manage the tongue well has developed a mature faith. Appropriately teaching the Word of God requires this sort of maturity.

The Tongue as an Instrument of Influence

James expanded his instruction on the tongue to include every believer. He used two examples to illustrate the tongue's great influence.

A. Controlling influence

James 3:3 KJV 1900

Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

A horse is a weighty animal, often high-spirited, and has the capability of exceptional strength and speed. Yet a bit, a small piece of metal in a horse's mouth, can bring all that strength and speed under control.

Describe the power you felt over the horse.

The tongue, like a horse's bit, is a small instrument. The tongue can affect the motives, ambitions, and goals of those who hear the words that roll across it. So the influence of the tongue can change the course of people's lives. And the tongue can dominate the spirit of another and turn the hearer to the will of the speaker.

ASK: When has someone used his or her tongue to positively influence your life?

B. Directional influence

Another example is the ship's rudder.

James 3:4 KJV 1900

Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

ASK: What does a rudder do for a ship? It moves back and forth to direct the ship as the ship moves through the water.

DISPLAY: Resource 41 -RI 2.

The ships of James's day could not begin to compare with the behemoths that plow the oceans today. But whatever the ship's size, its direction is affected by the positioning of the rudder.

Our speech is influential too. Our words affect the decisions and choices of those who hear them. Idle words or inappropriate words can discourage, damage, or lead astray. But with active faith, God helps us to discipline our speech so that our words can instead build up and encourage others.

The Tongue as an Instrument of Injury

James next turned to the destructive force of a tongue out of control.

He used a forest fire and poison to illustrate the destructiveness of our tongues.

A. The destruction of fire

James 3:5 KJV 1900

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

People living in forested areas know the damage that can be done by the careless use of fire. For example, a small campfire, if left unattended or built carelessly, can soon turn into an uncontrollable blaze rushing through a forest.

DISPLAY: Resources 41 -RI 3 and 41-R14.

James said the destructive ability of the tongue is similar. Though it is small, it can ignite a fire that destroys the lives of those touched by its words.

Have you ever heard the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” This was told to me a lot as a kid but it is just not true. Words have a powerful impact on others.

James 3:6 KJV 1900

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

The tongue is a world of iniquity, leading to all kinds of unrighteousness. The small fire of the tongue, James noted, sets on fire the course of nature, the whole life of an individual or even of a whole community. The next time you are tempted to say something negative, think of your tongue as a small flame with the potential for widespread devastation. Think also that Satan and Hell are the origin of its destructive nature.

ASK: Why might a believer be tempted to us his or her tongue in devastating ways? To get revenge on someone; to eliminate someone and create opportunities for his or her own advancement; to make him- or herself seem better.

B. The destruction of poison

James 3:7 KJV 1900

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

ASK: What amazing examples of tamed wild animals have you observed? People can tame animals, but the tongue is much too wild.

James 3:8 KJV 1900

But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

Jesus explained that the problem with the tongue resides in the heart (Luke 6:45). Our words flow out of either goodness or evil in the heart, and only God has the remedy for an evil heart. If the tongue remains unchecked, James said, it can act as a deadly poison. Such a comparison emphasizes a person's ability to use his or her tongue to essentially assassinate another person's reputation or character.

One of the names for the Devil is "slanderer. " Satan tempts the believer to use the tongue for gossip by which an individual is slandered and maligned. According to Jesus, Satan is also the "father of lies" (John 8:44). As such, he tempts the individual to lie rather than tell the truth.

Paul called believers to task on the issue of godly communication in Ephesians 4. The Ephesians were grieving the Spirit and giving in to the Devil with their dishonest words and other unwholesome speech. Paul challenged the Ephesians to stop lying to each other and to start telling the truth.

Ephesians 4:25 KJV 1900

Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Those who had been renewed in Christ, he said, should no longer participate in such corrupt speech but should edify each other.

ASK: What are other forms of destructive speech? Discouraging or putting down others, sowing seeds of discord within a group, complaining, cursing others.

James was not challenging believers to tame the tongue by their own willpower. His point was that human mastery of the tongue is impossible. Even as believers, we can be influenced by Satan to use our words for destruction. One can control the tongue only through an active, living faith in Christ. Apart from His supernatural help, the believer is as powerless as any other person to tame the tongue. Christ cleanses our hearts so that we can use our tongues to edify others, to tell the truth, and to praise God.

The Tongue as a Divided Instrument

James 3:9 KJV 1900

Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

The word "bless" speaks of extolling God in worship—a fountain of praise exalting His name, His person, and His works of creation and redemption. The Spirit can help us use the tongue as an instrument of praise for God. But James noted that the same mouth that blesses God can also curse men. That should never be the case.

James 3:10 KJV 1900

Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Since man is made in God's image and believers are fellow members of God's family, God demands believers stop "cursing" one another. If we worship the Father, then we should also extol, honor, bless, and commend His children. When we disrespect members of God's family, we also disrespect God. Believers ought to address their words to and about other believers with respect. With the Spirit's help, we can.

ASK: How might regularly praising God influence how you use your tongue the rest of the time? When we praise God regularly, we gain a sense of His presence in our lives. We become accountable to Him for how we use our tongues. We will become more dependent on His Spirit to make our speech pleasing to God.

James 3:11–12 KJV 1900

Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

James gave two illustrations of the inconsistency of using the tongue for both blessing and cursing. First, a fountain cannot pour out both sweet and bitter water, or freshwater and salty.

ASK: Why can't a fountain give forth both fresh and salt water?

The water that shoots up through a fountain comes from a source.

The source is either fresh water or salt water. It can't be both

The second illustration of olives and figs is similar, demonstrating that neither plant can produce the fruit of the other. Our only source for consistent, godly speech is the Holy Spirit.

ASK: What are some ways to use the Spirit-controlled tongue to glorify God and edify others? Teach God's Word, encourage others, speak the truth, praise God, speak words of love and forgiveness.

ASK: When has the Holy Spirit helped you to control your speech and use it for good?

You can't tame your tongue on your own, but the God Who made your tongue can help you. A God-tamed tongue will demonstrate the genuineness of your faith to all who hear you speak.