A MATTER OF LIFE OR DEATH (JAMES 3:1-12)
The phrase “weapons of mass destruction” has become a common saying. The scriptures teach us that we all have a weapon of mass destruction. Our tongues! In Proverbs 18:21 we read; the tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. In Proverbs 6 Solomon gives us a list of seven things that the Lord hates. Three of these are connected with the tongue. In vrs 2 of our text James confidently assures us; if anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. Such a person does not exist. James can confidently assert in vrs 7; all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can control the tongue. The puritan preacher Thomas Manton was surely right when he said; “Most of a man’s sins are in his words.”
- THE TONGUE IS CAPABLE OF TERRIBLE INJURY
The tongue has the power of death. In vrs 5 we read; consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. Runaway fires can wreak havoc before being brought under control. In vrs 6 our tongues are likened to a runaway fire. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. There is only one thing worse than a runaway fire and that is a runaway fire that is driven by powerful winds. In vrs 6 we are introduced to our arch enemy who works the bellows in hell to inflame the destructive potential of our tongues. Think of some sparks which Satan can fan into furious falem.
i) Gossip. In Proverbs 26:22 Solomon says that the words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.
ii) Flattery. In Proverbs 29:5 we read; whoever flatters his neighbour is spreading a net for his feet. What is the difference between gossip and flattery? Gossip is saying something behind someone’s back that you would not say to their face whereas flattery is saying something to someone’s face that you would not say behind their back. Flattery is false praise. It is either not deserved by the recipient or not really meant by the speaker.
iii) Quarrels. In Proverbs 17:14 Solomon says; starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
iv) Lying. In Proverbs 26:28 Solomon says; a lying tongue hates those it hurts.
There are other sparks, reckless words (Prov 12:18); slander (Prov 10:18) and subtle innuendo. All are destructive. - THE TONGUE IS CAPABLE OF TREMENDOUS INFLUENCE
In vrs 3, 4 two pictures are used to describe the influence of the tongue. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. The tongue is a small part of the body. It can be used destructively but when controlled by the speaker it has the potential for great influence. The tongues of Adolf Hitler and Winston Churchill are good examples of this. On one side of the English Channel a megalomaniac whipped up an entire nation into a frenzy of hate. I am told that for every word in Hitler’s book Mein Kampf 125 lives were lost. The tongue has the power of death. But the tongue also has the power of life. On the other side of the channel Churchill rallied the spirits of a nation to what was their “finest hour.”
i) What finer use could be found for our tongues than to sing God’s praise. As vrs 9, 10 of our text tells us, the tongue can be used to praise our Lord and Saviour.
ii) Our tongues can also be used to share the gospel and turn people from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to the kingdom of God. We would do well to make Paul’s prayer in Colossians 4:3, 6 our own and pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains . . . Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
iii) We need to learn to speak less. In Proverbs 10:19 we are told when words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. Later in Proverbs 17:27 Solomon assures us a man of knowledge uses words with restraint.
iv) We need to learn to master the art of gentle words. In Proverbs 15:1 and 25:15 we learn that soft words turns away wrath and can break a bone (a hard heart).
v) Carefully craft your words. In Proverbs 25:11 we are told a word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
In vrs 12 James concludes his discussion on the tongue by pointing to creation in vrs 12. Fig trees don’t bear olives and grapevines do not bear figs. Salt water and fresh water cannot flow from the same spring. In the same way a tongue that is not increasingly coming under the control of the speaker is indicative of a heart that is not controlled by the Saviour.