Sticks and Stones

The main point of these verse is

Your Tongue Is Dangerous If Not Controlled

Show them the bridle

An uncontrolled horse is bad news. He is controlled through pressure on his tongue.

For us, an uncontrolled tongue can be just as bad of news for others and for our witness.

James 3:2–12 ESV

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.

We all Stumble

Perfection is not the issue, intention is the issue.

Proverbs 4:25–27 ESV

25 Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Sin will still cause stumbling, but where do your eyes focus. What are you trying to achieve.

James wants us to be intentional about our walk, not perfect in it.

Romans 12:2 ESV

2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

One area James is focusing on here is our tongue

Objects,

Bridles, bits, Rudder, Fire, Beasts, Birds, Reptile, Sea Creature, evil, poison, mouth, olives, figs, salt water and fresh water and the main object, the tongue

Actions,

stumble, set a blaze, steering, taming, blessing, cursing, bearing, springing

Use of the tongue reveals much of our heart condition.

Luke 6:45 ESV

45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

James 3:9–10 ESV

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.

I have the ability, you can ask the staff, to be in full concentration on something and still listen to other conversations and events around me.

I remember once when we had gone out to lunch after service. Someone that I had just had a conversation with about where they expressed how much they enjoyed the service was telling someone else at lunch about how bad the service was.

People can talk out of both sides of their mouth.

It takes such small things to ruin such big things.

James 3:3–8 ESV

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.

Clipboardgate and Tshirtgate and Maskgate

Our uncontrolled tongues seldom have as great an impact on the subject we “let loose” on, but they can have a tremendous impact on the witness of Christ.

As an unbeliever, I cannot tell you the amount of times that my reservations about the faith were confirmed by the careless words of a “believer”.

James 3:6 ESV

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.

Psalm 141:3 ESV

3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!

Proverbs 15:4 ESV

4 A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Our Tongue Can Tells Us About Our Growth

Opening Up James (A Note of Hope (v. 2))

The word ‘perfect’ refers to maturity. James was saying that those who control their speech are well on the way to spiritual maturity

Mangroves

Brackish water - brackish water is hostile to the growth of most terrestrial plant species, without appropriate management it is damaging to the environment.

It is water that is not fresh but is also not saltwater. A little of both exist.

James is saying, That should not be us.

James 1:26 ESV

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Hold up the bridle again.

Who controls your tongue?

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

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.

The Christian Recorder of March 1862, a publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, where it is presented as an "old adage" in this form:

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never break me.

Sticks and stones may break my bones But words shall never hurt me.

That saying is not true. We are hurt most often by the words of another rather than the physical altercation with someone.

Our words have power!

Power to build and power to tear down, power to bless and power to curse.

As believers our speech should build up, lift up, praise and exalt. It should love and correct but not put down.

Our tongue should reflect a heart for Christ.

Let us be intentional about our witness, let us control our tongues.