TAMING OUR TONGUES

James 3:1-13

THE MONSTER IN YOUR MOUTH

Intro: 

      The tongue is the smallest organ in our bodies and yet it has the most potential.  When used for evil, the tongue has wrecked lives, carried away nations to war; and sent families to the divorce courts. But, when it is used for good, the tongue has brought peace to troubled souls, soothed hurt feelings and led men to Jesus.

The tongue is controlled by the heart:

Matthew 15:18–19 KJV 1900

18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

      Now, when we speak of the tongue, we mean the words we speak and boy do we speak them!  The average man uses 25,000 words per day, the average woman 30,000. (Ill. That’s why the husband comes home from work and doesn’t have a lot to say.  He has used up all his words.  The wife on the other hand still has a few thousand words left.)  This means that we speak a 60 page book per day.  Over 9,125,000words per year, equaling 66 books of over 800 pages each.  In a lifetime, this totals nearly 5,000 volumes, enough to fill a large library. The average person engages in over 30 conversations daily. 

      With so many words coming out of our mounts, there is much potential for good and evil.  And, with so many words falling from our mouths, we need to be in control of what we say.  We need to keep them sweet, just in case we have to eat them again! 

      Now, I believe that 95% of all our church, family and personal trouble would be a thing of the past, if we could control the monster in our mouths. Of course, most people are like an old pair of shoes, all worn out except the tongue. 

      Notice with me as James unmasks The Taming our our Tongues.  James points out three types of tongues that we can all possess.

I. WE SEE THE CONTROLLED TONGUE-VS. 2-5

In these verses, we are to look at the controlled tongue, and there are some things that we must realize. We must:

A. Realize A Practical Fact-v. 2

James is very realistic to point out that we all "offend", or “stumble”, in many things, and in many areas of our lives. 

However, the area that he’s addressing is the area of our words, and our speech. Thus, he shows us two scenarios:

1. Maturity In Our Speech - "perfect man"

This phrase means “to be mature.” 

It is a banking term and speaks of a note that has reached maturity.  The idea here is that a man who can bridle his tongue is a man who is moving toward maturity.

James is not saying that once a man learns this lesson, that he’ll never be exempt from it again. But, once a man learns the lesson of controlling his tongue, he is developing maturity of his speech.

2.  Mastery Of Our Speech - "..able also to bridle.."

Again, James is not saying that a man who controls his tongue is perfect. But, that a man that is able to control his tongue demonstrates not only maturity, but mastery over his speech.  As a result, this man is also able to "bridle" the rest of his body.

The word “bridle” means "to govern, or to control.”

The man able to control his tongue, which is the most uncontrollable part of the human anatomy, will also, be able to control the rest of life.

Proverbs 21:23 “23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles.”

He has developed maturity in his speech, and mastery of his speech.

B. Realize A Powerful Force-vs. 3-4

James again seeks the use of illustrations to drive his point home. He wants to teach us that when the tongue is under control, all of life is under control!  He illustrates this point by comparing the controlled tongue to a:

1. V. 3 Horse Controlled By A Rein – The word “bits” refers "to lead." 

It is the picture of a trainer breaking a horse, by the use of a very important tool: a bit.  Interestingly enough, no horse has ever bridled himself. No horse has ever put a bit into his own mouth. So, too, we normally don’t bridle ourselves. But, our master trainer seeks to control our speech with the bit of God’s Word. When the trainer wants the horse to stop he pulls back on the reins, the bit then presses against the horse’s tongue causing him to stop.  How we ought also to allow the bit of God’s Word to control, and bridle what we say, and how we say it.

Psalm 39:1 “1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, That I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, While the wicked is before me.”

2.  V. 4 A Ship Controlled By A Rudder

James moves to another illustration, a ship driven, controlled by a rudder.  The word “helm” speaks of "a rudder.”  It is the picture of a ship being driven about with fierce and strong winds, yet it is still held on course by a small, seemingly insignificant instrument, known as a rudder

      James is implying that the tongue is like the small rudder that guides a large ship. Though the winds blow, we aren’t caught up in the "heat of the moment" of emotion, but the rudder of our tongue is in control of our course.

      So, we must realize a practical fact, and realize a powerful force, and see that a boat with no rudder is a boat left to the mercy of the wind. It has no direction, and will never reach its destination.

II. WE SEE THE CARELESS TONGUE-VS. 5-8

(Ill. In these verses James again uses illustrations to drive home his point. We see two things about the careless tongue:)

A. Its Capability-vs. 5-6

James, in these two verses, begins to define to us the capability of the tongue. Thus, showing us four traits of the tongue:

1. V. 5-6 The Potential

Being such a little member, James warns us to not let its size fool you, for it can do great things.

(Ill. Give a tongue to a Hitler and you have World War II.  Give a tongue to a Gandhi and you have revolution without warfare.  Give a tongue to the devil and you have the fall in Eden.  Give a tongue to Jesus and you have an open invitation to salvation.  It’s all in how you use it!)

A Greek philosopher, once told his servant that the next day he was going to have some friends for dinner and that he should get the best thing he could find in the market. The philosopher and his guests sat down the next day at the table. They had nothing but tongue—four or five courses of tongue—tongue cooked in this way, and tongue cooked in that way. The philosopher finally lost his patience and said to his servant, “Didn’t I tell you to get the best thing in the market?” The servant said, “I did get the best thing in the market. Isn’t the tongue the organ of sociability, the organ of eloquence, the organ of kindness, the organ of worship?”

      Then the philosopher said, “Tomorrow I want you to get the worst thing in the market.” And on the morrow the philosopher sat at the table, and there was nothing but tongue—four or five courses of tongue—tongue in this shape and tongue in that shape. The philosopher lost his patience again and said, “Didn’t I tell you to get the worst thing in the market?” The servant replied, “I did; for isn’t the tongue the organ of blasphemy, the organ of defamation, the organ of lying?”

      The word “matter” refers to "a forest.”  It is the picture of a tiny match creating a spark and igniting the whole forest.  No one would ever think that a little match could set an entire forest on fire. But, that is exactly the picture that James is portraying about the tongue. It’s a little member, but it possesses a great potential.

(Ill. A woman in a certain church has been guilty of saying some pretty terrible things about her preacher.  She was later convicted by the Lord and asked the preacher for forgiveness.  He forgave her.  Than she asked what she could do to make it up to him.  He told her to take a feather pillow, cut it open and let all the feathers fly into the wind.  She did this and asked what she needed to do next.  He said, “Return to where you let those feathers go and collect everyone.”  She cried, “But, that’s impossible! The wind will have blown them all away by now”  He replied, “Yes, and it is impossible for you to take back all the evil things you said about me.  The damage has already been done.”)

Proverbs 31:26 “26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And in her tongue is the law of kindness.”

2. v. 6 The Power

James now shows us the power of the tongue. The word “Hell,” refers to “gehenna.” Gehenna was the name of the place of the valley, outside Jerusalem, where the pagans believed the false god Molech lived. In those days, these pagans would sacrifice little children to Molech. This valley was later desecrated by King Josiah, 2 Kings 23:10.  It was later used as a garbage dump. Lepers lived here; the dead bodies of criminals were here; gangs of wild dogs roamed here; fires continually burned and a great stench hung over the Valley of Hinnon.  In the Gospels, Jesus used this place as a picture of Hell.  Thus, James is saying that the fire that is started with the tongue has hell as its power source.  You are never more aligned with the goals of Hell than you are when you use your tongue for evil!

B. Its Capacity-vs. 7-8

James now shows not only the capability of the tongue, but the capacity of the tongue. We see its:

1. James illustrates the tongue as having fierce passion.

He informs that man has been able to tame all other sorts of animals. Yet, the one thing that he hasn’t been able to tame is the tongue. 

Winston Churchill: "The power of man has grown in every sphere except over himself."

(Note: The word "tame" is found in only one other New Testament passage, Mark 5:4, referring to the maniac of Gadara.  Thus, James likens an uncontrolled or untamed tongue to a demon possessed man. It is untamed, uncontrollable, and unruly.)

Psalm 39:3 “3 My heart was hot within me, While I was musing the fire burned: Then spake I with my tongue,”

(Ill. Little boy selling a push lawnmower. Baptist preacher come along and wanted to buy it and asked did it run. "Yes sir", said the boy. So, the preacher bought the mower.  When he tried to start it a few days later, he pulled and pulled on the rope, but it would not start.  Later, the preacher saw the boy again and said, "Son, that mower you sold me won’t start." The boy said, "Well preacher, did you cuss it?  You gotta cuss that mower before it will start." The preacher said, "Son, I’m a Baptist preacher, and I haven’t cussed in 18 years." Boy said, "Preacher, you keep pulling and it’ll come back to you."

      You think you have your tongue under control.  Yet, before you know it, a word can slip out, or a hurtful thing said.  The tongue is a danger, passionate thing and it must be controlled!

2. The word "poison" carries the picture of “a serpent striking, ejecting venom from its fangs.”

James compares the untamed tongue to a serpent’s bite.  Just as the bite of a rattler can inject poison into our system, and pose a great danger to us, so can a loosed tongue inject poison of deceit, lies, and rumors.

Psalm 140:3 “3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; Adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah.”

The tongue is full of passion, it is full of poison. It has both a tremendous Capability, and Capacity. It is a Careless Tongue!

III. WE SEE THE CONFUSED TONGUE-VS. 9-12

(Ill. In the rest of this passage, James shows us a third type of tongue, the confused tongue. The Indians used the term, "forked tongue", to describe confusing, or conflicting speech. James does the same thing, showing that a tongue that says different things shows that it is:)

A.  V. 9-10 Inconsistent- James again makes his point by use of a hypothetical, yet probing situation. Out of one side of our mouth comes praise, and blessing to God. Out of the other side comes backbiting, gossiping, and slandering towards men.

      Simply put, James sums it up by saying that "out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing." We bless God, but, yet we blast men who’ve been made in the likeness of God. This is inconsistent!

(Ill. “I am more deadly than the screaming shell from the howitzer. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenseless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea, and often as innocent. I never forget and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip.” (Cited in George Sweeting, Faith That Works [Chicago: Moody, 1983], 76-77)

B.  V. 11-12 Impossible- Again, James draws a vivid picture to make his point.  It is the picture of a fresh, flowing stream putting out bitter water, and sweet water.

(Note: Part of God’s promise to Israel before they entered the promised land  was, "For the Lord thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of  brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills." (Deut. 8:7)  Those natural springs still remain in the Middle East today. Some produce fresh water, and some produce salt water. However, none produce both. It is impossible!!)

      Thus, James is saying, that just as it is impossible for that to happen, it is also impossible for the tongue to send forth both righteousness and rumors; blessing and blasting; compliments and cursing. A tongue that does so is inconsistent, and impossible. It is a confused tongue! And, it is a window into the heart of a confused person, James 1:26.

      And, it is a dangerous thing!  Be careful that you do not use your tongue to praise the Lord one minute and pound your brother the next.  The evil use of the tongue is the root of all strife in the church, home and community, Pro. 26:20-28. 

(Ill. Don’t be a gossip, Pro. 6:19. Ill. “Discord is sewn with the needle of malice and the thread of gossip. – Alan Carr”  If you can’t say something constructive and positive about someone else, then say nothing about them at all!  “Leave the bad tale where you found it.” Irish proverb.  “Whoever gossips to you will gossip of you.” Spanish proverb. “Gossip is spreading other people’s misery,” Lewis Timberlake.)

(Ill. When I was a boy, there was a saying that we used to say, "Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me!" However, as I have gotten older, I have found that that is not altogether true. There are many injuries that I’ve suffered: cuts, scraps, surgeries, etc. However, all of those things have healed over time. Yet, there are some things that have been said to me, that while I have tried my best to forget them, I still bear the wounds of them.)

Conclusion:

Has my tongue been brought under the control of the Holy Spirit?

Have you brought the monster in your mouth under the Lord’s control?  May the Lord help us to seek His face for help in this vital area.  Much rests on our being able to govern the monster in our mouths.

If your lips you would keep from slips,

Five things observe with care:

Of whom you speak.

To whom you speak, and of what and when and where!