Taming The Tongue

Motivational speeches have been a practice for centuries. There are countless articles written about generals, kings, presidents, and prime ministers who have used words to inspire nations to continue their fight for freedom.

During WW2, Winston Churchill was famous for his motivational speeches, one of which ended with him saying, “we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender.”

General Patton was known for his rallying speeches to troops. They tended to be very aggressive and often profanity-laced, but they had an incredible effect on those heading into battle, knowing they might never return.

When I coached football, even though I knew we were outmanned, I would tell my players how good they were, who they were playing for, and to give their all on each and every play.

We would play music, which is another way to motivate through speech.

Conversely, speech not only builds up and motivates but can also tear down and destroy.

How many times have we believed false things about ourselves because a parent or friend kept teasing us about a feature or an inability?

This morning, as we delve into James 3, we will see the power of the tongue and why we need to be very careful about what we say.

Read James 3:1-12

A Word To Teachers

James 3:1–2 NASB95

Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways.

At the time of this letter, the church was a bit different than it is today.

Most New Testament churches did not have a single pastor like we do now.

People would often meet in houses, and those who had something to share would teach from God’s Word.

The problem is, some may have been tempted to one-up others or seek personal gain, leading to multiple potential pitfalls.

The issue was not the structure itself, but those who lead others into false doctrine.

Notice that James understands we are not going to be perfect in this... “for we all stumble in many ways.”

This doesn't mean we shouldn't care if we stumble, but it reminds us that those teaching God’s Word will be judged for what they teach.

The internet is filled with false teachers.

Many pulpits are occupied by pastors preaching for selfish gain.

Sunday school teachers who fail to prepare—these cases fall under this concern.

God’s Word should be handled with care, not taken lightly.

God takes seriously the roles of teaching and shepherding. When we lead His sheep astray, we will be held accountable.

For anyone who teaches, whether by speech or writing, James spends the remaining verses addressing the management of the tongue and the issues related to it.

Managing The Tongue

James 3:2–5 NASB95

If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.

When James uses the word “perfect,” it is not to suggest a person without sin. There was only one man to live without sin, and that was Jesus.

The word “perfect” means mature.

So, what James wants us to understand is that we can see a person's spiritual maturity by how they speak.

This is not the only indicator of spiritual maturity, but it is a major one.

If a person is a gossip or speaks with filthy words and unsavory topics, our first thought is not that they are spiritually mature, is it?

Luke 6:45 NKJV

A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

James provides an example of how a mature man controls his speech, illustrated by a Horse and a Ship.

I don’t know much about horses, but I do know they are powerful creatures.

They are used in battle because they are fearless.

They can carry great loads.

But without a bit, they are much harder to handle.

The tongue is similar in that, if it is uncontrolled, it can cause a tremendous amount of damage.

King David understood this and wrote this in Psalm 141:3

Psalm 141:3 NASB95

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips.

Notice the ships in verse 4; they are driven by strong winds.

Ships can be influenced by their surroundings.

The wind pushes them.

The waves crash against them.

Without a firm hand on the wheel, which controls the rudder, they would go every which way.

The tongue is similar; if we do not control it, all types of speech that are not fitting for a man or woman of God.

Conversely, the beauty of these illustrations is that when a horse or ship is controlled, they have tremendous value. So does a timely word.

Proverbs 12:18 NASB95

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

James continues with several examples of how dangerous an uncontrolled tongue can be.

The Dangers Of The Tongue

Remember the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”

There has never been anything more false than that saying. No words may not break your bones, but they cut deep into your soul, causing sometimes irreversible damage.

From verses 5b-12, he presents three different dangers.

The first is that the Tongue Destroys.

The Tongue Destroys

James 3:5–6 NASB95

See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

Several years ago, in Southern California, a golfer accidentally caused a small spark that turned into a large blaze.

The man was playing golf and accidentally chipped his ball into the rough beside the fairway.

On his next swing, his club struck a rock, which created a tiny spark.

That spark landed in the dry grass and ignited the brush.

Fire officials reported that 150 firefighters were called to fight the fire, which quickly spread through the vegetation next to the course and across two dry, brushy hillsides nearby.

James explains that the tongue is like that spark: small but capable of causing a lot of damage.

James even calls the tongue “the very world of iniquity!”

Almost every sin committed involves the use of the tongue, whether through speaking, writing, or social media. All crimes generally involve some form of dialogue.

Did you know three of the seven things on God’s hate list are sins of the tongue?

Proverbs 6:16–19 NASB95

There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers.

The tongue, when uncontrolled, is a microcosm of evil and can ignite a fire with destructive potential that grows as words pass from one person to another.

It consumes words and lives the way a fire consumes trees and forests.

Rumors, lies, put-downs, destructive criticism, character defamation, false witnesses, and so on.

Not only does the tongue cause destruction, but it is also poisonous!

The Poisonous Tongue

James 3:7–8 NASB95

For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

Have you ever been to the zoo? They have lions, bears, tigers, and all sorts of creatures, and they are tamed by a trainer. But unlike these sometimes vicious animals, there is no taming the tongue; it is constantly seeking evil and is full of poison.

I read an account of a West Indian church where someone noticed a deadly cobra moving through the meeting.

Someone went outside, grabbed a hoe, and cut off its head.

After the service, the people who had been attending gathered around the dead cobra, examining it.

One of the young men stomped on the cobra's head and immediately let out a shriek.

Within an hour, he was dead.

The cobra's fangs still contained deadly poison capable of killing a person.

People can be injured by what we have said long after we are removed from the situation.

There used to be a saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!”

There has never been anything more false than that saying. No words may not break your bones, but they cut deep into your soul, causing sometimes irreversible damage.

Proverbs 10:19 NKJV

In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.

Today, texting and emails often spread the poison.

Behind the screen of the computer, people will say things they would never voice face-to-face.

There have been countless lives ruined, and even suicides that began from ugly text from another person who was behind a screen.

Fathers, be careful what you say to your children; some words they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

Not only does the tongue cause destruction and is poisonous, but it is also inconsistent!

The Inconsistent Tongue

James 3:9–12 NASB95

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

These are difficult verses to read, but if we’re honest with ourselves, all of us are guilty.

How many times have you worshiped in church only to go home and bless out a family member?

Or spoken kindly to someone one moment and criticized them the next?

What I want you to notice, however, is that there is a positive side to each negative. In other words, we don’t have to be inconsistent!

Proverbs 18:21 NASB95

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.

The question we need to ask ourselves is how. How can we speak life instead of death if the tongue is untamable?

The question we need to ask ourselves is how. How can we speak life instead of death if the tongue is untamable?

There seems to be an inconsistency in this passage.

On one hand, we are told that anyone who can control his tongue is a mature believer.

On the other hand, we are told that no one can control his tongue.

There doesn’t seem to be much encouragement in this passage.

But that’s often how it is with most commands to holiness in the NT, isn’t it?

We really can’t do it.

That’s exactly the point: we can’t, but the Holy Spirit can.

In Galatians 5:22-23, the fruits of the Spirit are listed, and one of them is self-control.

It really isn’t self-control, is it?

It is Spirit-Control.

That is why controlling the tongue is a sign of spiritual maturity. The more we walk by the Spirit, the better we are at controlling our speech and speaking life into others instead of death.

I was listening to Tony Evans the other day and he related the story of these cranes in the Taurus Mountains of Southern Turkey. They are beautiful creatures, but they tend to cackle a lot—especially while flying.

Their loud cackling draws the attention of eagles who swoop down and seize them for a meal.

Experienced cranes have learned to avoid this threat by picking up stones large enough to fill their mouths.

This prevents them from cackling—and from becoming the lunch of an eagle.

Satan loves for us to cackle knowing we will cause destruction not only for ourselves but for those around us. In fact, Satan is the father of all evil and wants us to join him.

Our tongues tend toward evil, according to James, and therefore must be controlled by the Holy Spirit if we hope to speak in ways befitting our Savior.

Proverbs 13:3 NASB95

The one who guards his mouth preserves his life; The one who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.

How do we guard our mouths?

We pick up the rock of the Holy Spirit and place it in our mouths so that we are not just cackling useless words, but so the words are muffled and controlled by Him!

Consider how many of our problems could be prevented if we learned to control our tongues! How much heartache we cause others could be avoided if we guarded our speech!

Let’s Pray.