Living Out Our Faith Skillfully - James 3:7-8

Introduction

Tonight, our text is James 3:7-8 which says:

James 3:7–8 KJV 1900

7 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: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

As you already know, we are working our way through James verse by verse. Last week, we learned focused on knowing and understanding verses 5 and 6.

GRAMMAR STUDY

As always, we spend a small amount of time looking at the grammar. I am going to do tonight what I did last week. I am going to give my work that I did in preparing for our study of verses 7 and 8. I will point a few things that stood out to me as I was studying this week and then we will get right into the application of these verses.

One of the things that I did was do a little more detailed study of the words “beasts” and the words “serpents.” Here is what I discovered.

There are five different Greek words translated “beasts” in the New Testament.

The first Greek word is a generic term for any kind of living creature.

An example of the first is found in Hebrews 13:11 which says:

Hebrews 13:11 KJV 1900

11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.

Here it is speaking of sacrificial animals which were alive and are now dead. Their bodies were burned without the camp.

The second Greek word is the word used in our text - James 3:7 “7 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:” This is a term used specifically of wild beasts only. A wild beast being any animal that is untamed or incapable of being tamed.

The first Greek word emphasizes the vital element of life. The “beasts” were alive, but are now dead. The second term emphasizes beastiality (untamed). The third Greek word denotes ownership of an animal. The fourth word identifies the beast as being four-footed versus two-footed. And the fifth gives the idea of a slain beast.

I then did a short study on the word “serpent.”

There are two words in the Greek for our word “serpent” in the New Testament. The first alludes to all that is in Scripture describing the evilness, treachery, and skulking murderous proclivities associated to the serpent. All of which symbolizes evil character, especially the character of Satan. The second, which is our word here in our text, just simply refers any type of creeping thing from snakes to spiders and insects.

I also focused on the word “poison.”

The Greek word here conjures up two pictures both with the same connotation. It can be likened to rust corrupting metal which is something that takes time to do. Most metal begins to rust when it is exposed the elements outsides. As it rains, snows, and the sun bakes on it, rust begins to show and slowly eats away the metal. The other picture is that of a serpent’s venom or poison. The venom actively works as it destroys living tissue. These are two great word pictures that we will come back to a little later.

The last word I spend some additional time on was the word “evil.”

Again, in the Greek language, there are two basic words for evil. The first, which in our text, is the most common word. It stands for whatever is evil in character or base. The other word indicates an evil influence causing a malignant effect. The word in our text is an antithetic word to things that are fair, advisable, good in character. Essentially it means that which is useless, incapable, and just plain bad.

Here is where we get to the heart of learning.

SPIRITUAL APPLICATION

By now you should know the two questions that we ask! What are they?

What is the Holy Spirit talking about?

We have already identified the subject in our verses 1-6. The subject is communication and, specifically, using our mouths to communicate.

James 3:1–6 KJV 1900

1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 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. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 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. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 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.

We noted last week that the tongue, a very small muscled located in our mouth, can do a whole lot of damage. In fact, just as spark can set a whole forest on fire, the tongue can set our entire body on fire as it defiles us.

So, without a doubt, the subject is our mouth and its influence on our communication.

What is the second question?

What is the Holy Spirit saying about our mouth and communication?

This where we go a little deeper. Let’s begin our answer by looking again at our text. Look again a verse 7.

James 3:7 KJV 1900

7 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:

The Holy Spirit draws our attention to all the untamed animals man has managed to tame.

We have manage to tame beasts - from horses to cows to even great animals like elephants. We have learned to tame them so that listen to our commands. We have even managed to tame birds. Man has managed to teach birds how to talk.

Speaking of parrots, did you hear about the preacher who went to the pet shop to buy a parrot. The preacher asked the shop keeper before purchasing the parrot, “Are you sure it doesn’t scream, yell, or swear?” The shopkeeper assured the preacher saying, “Oh absolutely. It’s a religious parrot!” He went to explain saying, “Do you see those strings on his legs? When you pull the right one, he recites the Lord’s Prayer, and when you pull the left one he recites Psalm 23.” “Wonderful!” exclaimed the preacher, “but what happens if you pull both strings?” About that time, the parrot squawked, “I fall of my perch, idiot!”

Ok, ok, I know bad joke. But, how wonderful it would be to have a parrot that could recite the Lord’s Prayer?

The point is that we have managed to tame just about everything possible. Note that man has even tamed creeping things aka serpents. When we were in Nepal, we often would see on the streets the snake charmers. They would have a snake, usually a cobra, in a straw basket. They would open the basket and begin playing music charming the snake out of the basket. They had taught the snake to respond to their music. And, of course, we all have seen or even been to places like Sea world where they have trained dolphins, orcas, seal lions, and otters to do a variety of stunts and tricks.

Here is the point of this verse.

When it comes to the tongue, it is way much easier to tame a wild animal than it is tame the tongue.

The very next verse states just that.

I find it fascinating that the human spirit has such an incredible capacity for sacrifice and self-control. We have heard countless stories of people caught in the wilderness or some life threatening situation and survived.

For example, take Sampson Parker, a farmer in South Carolina working alone in his field as an example. Sampson managed to get his right arm trapped in a mechanical picker in 2007. The piece of machinery trapped his arm and then it caught fire. He was faced with the possibility of burning to death slowly. Being trapped by the machinery, he decided to take his tiny, 3 inch pocketknife and saw through his own arm to make his escape. Parker managed to cut his arm off. A firefighter, Doug Spinks, found him burned and bleeding profusely. Spinks saved his life that day. However, if Sampson Parker had not made the decision to amputate his own arm, he would dies a very painful death that day.

What is fascinating is this. We can take some extreme measures to not only tame animals, but also to do whatever takes to survive. Yet, we can’t tame our own tongues.

Here is the point! You, on your own using your own ability, cannot tame your tongue.

You just cannot do it. We tame many other things and do some incredible stuff, but we can’t control our tongues.

Now, note the second thing in our text. Note verse 8.

James 3:8 KJV 1900

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

There is the simple truth - “the tongue can no man tame.” Now all of this seems hopeless. If we can’t tame our own tongue, then what hope is there that we will be able to communicate the way God expects us to. That is the point. You can’t, but God can. We are to place our tongues under the power and control of the Holy Spirit. When we let Him have control, the tongue is tamed. God is mightier than the human tongue. In fact, we have in Ephesians the formula for placing anything, especially our tongue under the Holy Spirit’s control. Look with me at Ephesians 5.

Ephesians 5:18–20 KJV 1900

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Verse 19 speak of control. Being drunk with wine is a wordly control. Being filled with the Spirit is a spiritual control. Now, note what happens when a person allows the Spirit to control them. Such a person will be “SPEAKING” to themselves in “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody” in their hearts “to the Lord.” Note that it goes on to say that they will also be “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” What do we use to “speak” songs of praise as well as giving thanks to the Lord? We use our tongues, our mouths. In that moment, the tongue is tamed. However, it is not tamed by us. It is tamed by the Holy Spirit. He is the only One Who can tame it.

Now, here is the last thing for tonight.

Look again at verse 8.

James 3:8 KJV 1900

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

We have an accurate and pointed description of our sinful tongue.

It is an unruly evil. “Unruly” means not under control or authority. “Evil” means at its very heart is wickedness and sin. Therefore, it is a wickedness that is out of control.

Note also that it is “full of deadly poison.” A description that conjures up images of a snake filled with vile and deadly venom. It is there standing ready to be injected into whoever it can set its teeth. Thus, a tongue out of control is extremely dangerous.

Someone noted “The poison of the tongue is no less deadly, it murders men’s reputations by the slanders it utters, their souls by the lusts and passions it stirs up in them, and many times their bodies too by the contentions and quarrels it raiseth against men.”

Without doubt, many a person has been ruined by erroneous slander. How many have given into sinful lust at the suggestion of a so-called friend! And, there is no doubt, that heated arguments can often result in outright fist fights. And what is at the center of each? It is the tongue.

Listen to some of these passages.

Psalm 55:21 KJV 1900

21 The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: His words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords.

Many have attributed this Psalm as David’s cry to God during Absalom’s, David’s son, rebellion. At the heart of his rebellion were friends who convinced Absalom to betray his father. And, then, Absalom used smooth words that were filled with war against David. How that must have struck at the heart of David!

Here are a few other psalms that speak to the same thought.

Psalm 57:4 KJV 1900

4 My soul is among lions: And I lie even among them that are set on fire, even the sons of men, Whose teeth are spears and arrows, And their tongue a sharp sword.

Psalm 59:7 KJV 1900

7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: Swords are in their lips: For who, say they, doth hear?

Psalm 64:3–4 KJV 1900

3 Who whet their tongue like a sword, And bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: 4 That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.

So, what is the Holy Spirit saying tonight about the tongue? It is evil. It is unruly. It cannot be tamed outside of the Holy Spirit.

Conclusion

Let me conclude with this little story.

A woman once came to the John Wesley, the great preacher of the late 1700s, saying that she without a doubt knew exactly what her talent was. She said, “My talent from God is to speak my mind.” To which, Wesley quipped, “I don’t think God would mind if you buried that talent.”

Speaking our mind is a recipe for disaster. It opens the door for that small muscle to spew out its unruly evil. Instead, we must learn to let the Holy Spirit have control of our lives and, especially, our tongue. Under His control, the tongue is transformed from a deadly poison to a spiritual healing ointment. We can, with His help, have tongues that “minister grace to the hearers.”