Faith in Action. Lesson 4: Talking Your Faith. James 3:1 12. The Untamable Tongue

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1 Faith in Action Lesson 4: Talking Your Faith James 3:1 12 The Untamable Tongue In a nutshell ~ Have you ever looked at yourself in the mirror only to be momentarily startled by the person looking back at you? Here in chapter 3, James picks up that mirror he earlier made reference to (James 1:21 26) as if to peel away the layers of hypocrisy prevalent in the church. In doing so he causes all believers to take a look at the image we reflect to one another and to the world. God wants His children to control their tongues and to be models of true wisdom and humility. It is a message that is fundamental to the Christian life and must be continually cultivated by every serious student of God s Word. Read James 3:1 12. Once again James reminds his readers that he is speaking to his brothers in the faith. For the moment his attention is focused on those in church leadership as he transitions to a very important teaching about humility. 1. What group specifically does James single out? Why do his words contain a strong warning? v. 1 James focuses on those who aspire to positions of leadership, singling out teachers because of their potential vulnerability to the sin of pride. Those that teach are in danger of becoming arrogant and expressing that prideful attitude in their public speaking. It was a problem already manifesting itself in the church leaders, causing James to use a tone and verbiage that are very strong. Look closer ~ This stricter accountability is a mirrored reflection of the higher standards God ordained in the Old Testament for the leaders who tended and cared for His people. According to Ezekiel 34:1 10, what judgment did God make regarding those that neglected and took advantage of His flock? 1

2 What warning do we find in the New Testament that Jesus spoke against those who teach others to sin? See Matthew 5:19 and Matthew 18: We are all vulnerable; we all stumble in many things. What does James declare about the person that does not stumble in their words? v. 2 Notice the use of the word we in verse 2, where James displays his humility by putting himself in the same category with everyone else: we all stumble in many things. The concern widens from the teachers to include all. In other words, everyone should be concerned about controlling their tongue: the teachers who will incur stricter judgment based on how they use their words and everyone else because if we can control the tongue, we are also able to keep the whole body in restraint. 3. In verses 3 6, James uses three illustrations to depict the power of the tongue. List them below, defining how they work. a. v. 3: b. v. 4: c. v. 5: The bit for the horse and the rudder for the ship both show the power of a small object to control a larger one. Both require close attention to achieve the desired result and the effect is positive. The tongue is small in relation to the body just as the bit and rudder are small in relation to the objects they control, yet the tongue can be a source of enormously devastating effects! James says if it is misused, its little flame is capable of ruining a immense forest. It is petite in size but powerful in its ability to achieve great good or massive destruction. 4. Verse 6 describes three effects of the tongue; what does James say about them? a. b. 2

3 c. d. When the tongue is under the control of Satan, what picture do you get of its capability in Proverbs 16:27 28? e. What does Proverbs 26:18 22 reveal about the potential fire of the tongue and the aftermath? Key Verse ~ (Memory verse) James 3:8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Review this verse often throughout the week. Write it out a couple of times in the space provided to help you commit it to memory. By week s end, try to notice how and where you are able to put it into practice. Note your results. The Peril of the Tongue Read James 3:7 12 for review. Verses 7 and 8 reveal a striking contrast: every kind of creature upon the earth that can walk, crawl, swim, or fly can be tamed by man; but we human beings cannot tame our own tongues. James speaks of our tongues as restless unruly evil, full of deadly poison, always looking to get into mischief. 1. Verse 9 reveals both the positive and negative ways we use the tongue; what are they? a. Positive: 3

4 b. Negative: c. According to James, what is wrong with this picture? v. 10 Man s uncontrolled tongue is similar to the forked tongue of a deadly snake, spewing forth both blessings and curses. The fact that these come forth from the same mouth should not be so! We show our double-mindedness by the way we produce both. The illustrations James pulls from nature in verses would have been very familiar to his readers. The areas surrounding the Dead Sea produced many salty springs, but farther north one could find fresh springs. Each spring could produce only the one type of water. In addition, a single fruit or olive tree can produce only its particular kind of fruit. A fig tree cannot bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs nature is consistent with itself! And God s people should be consistent in the way they use their words to edify others. Touch point~ When we see the awful outcome of the tongue we wonder why we use it at all; wouldn t it be better if we never opened our mouths? There is a reason why God gave us two ears and one mouth: we should listen twice as much as we speak. If we did that we d be much better off! The truth is when used for evil the tongue becomes an instrument of division and destruction, but when used for good it can become the instrument of grace and good. When bridled and empowered by the Holy Spirit the tongue can bring great blessing. What do you learn about this in Ephesians 4:29 and Colossians 4:6? In order for your speech to be seasoned with grace, what must you do first? See 2 Corinthians 10:5b. What does Proverbs 25:11 say about the value of choosing the right words at the right moment to share with someone? Will you purpose to do put this into practice this week? Stop and commit it to God in prayer. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and My Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) 4

5 The wisdom to be discovered in James is likened to beautiful pearls held lovingly in the Father s hand, waiting to be dropped one by one into the reader s mind and heart. The value of each is priceless (Matthew 13:45 46). At the Spirit s leading, select one Pearl of Truth from your lesson and explain why it is precious to you. Pearl of Truth ~ Take the Pearl of Truth you ve selected and pray it back to God. Praying the Word not only blesses His heart, it allows you to make it your own! As you showcase it by putting it on display in your life, others will be drawn to the Lord by its beauty. Write out your prayer in the space provided below. Pray the Truth ~ 2010 Janis J. Vance, All Rights Reserved. Used by permission. 5

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