JAMES 3:1-18 James addresses several different topics in his letter, but if we had to mention one topic as being the prevailing one, we would have to say that it is faith and works. And when you think about it, the most obvious evidence of the relationship between a person's faith and works is in a person's speech. Jesus said that what's in the heart comes out the mouth Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The tongue produces only what the heart tells it to produce. James mentions the tongue in every chapter of this book, and I believe this just proves to us the importance of what we say. When you think about it, what we speak reveals to others what we are. Of course, some of us can "fake it" for awhile we can say things that sound spiritual and godly and good, but sooner or later what we really are will come out our mouth, won't it? Also, misuse of our tongue is so easy. In fact, it's the simplest way you and I can sin. I mean, there are certain sins you and I can't commit simply because we don't have the opportunity, but there are no limits to the sins we can commit with our tongue. In fact, Scripture describes the tongue in a lot of ways mostly bad Let me just read to you a few wicked, perverse, filthy, flattering, slanderous, deceitful, blasphemous, vile, cursing, boasting and this list contains only a few descriptive words the Bible uses for the tongue. John MacArthur said, "No wonder God put the tongue in a cage behind the teeth, walled in by the mouth!" So, if what we are is revealed by what we say, then we can understand why James put so much emphasis on the tongue. When a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, it certainly ought to show by the words he speaks. I believe there have been many, many people who have been turned off to the Lord instead of turned on to Him because of the words some Christians have spoken. Warren Wiersbe: "With the tongue man can praise God, pray, preach the Word, and lead the lost to Christ! What a privilege! But with that same tongue he can tell lies that could ruin a man's reputation or break a person's heart." I believe we so take for granted what the tongue is capable of doing and at the same time we don't put enough emphasis on what the tongue is capable of doing. We take for granted the way our words can influence others for good and can edify and exhort those around us. But, we don't think about the importance of how our tongue can tear a person down. Let's look at what James has to say about the tongue. Let's do more than that. Let's let the words James says about the tongue sink deeply into our heart, so that our tongues will be transformed by what we study today. The first thing I want us to see is Page 1 of 8
1) The Power of the Tongue to Mislead James 3:1 Apparently in the churches James is addressing there were folks who were jockeying for the position of teacher. James isn't trying to discourage folks from teaching, he is simply trying to get them to look at the position of teacher with the serious thought that it deserves. In 1:21 James has already said, "If any one thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless." Now, if this principle applies to everyone in the church, how much more does it apply to teachers who presume to stand before God's people to interpret and explain God's holy Word? I want to tell you that it's an awesome responsibility to teach the Word of God! And the reason it is is found right here in the first verse. " knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment." God holds me responsible for what I share with you each Sunday. I have said it before one of my worst fears is that I would teach you error or that I would teach you truth and not live the truth I teach you. If I teach you one thing and do another, what does that make me? It makes me a hypocrite! And the very words I speak condemn me! To sin with my tongue when I'm by myself or with just one or two other people would be bad enough, but to sin with my tongue in front of you while holding this Bible is so much worse! Not only do we seen the power of the tongue to condemn, but we also see 2) The Power of the Tongue to Control Verses 2-5a James says in verse 2 that the perfect man is able to bridle his tongue, but also his whole body, as well. And he goes on to use two analogies one of a bit in the mouth of a horse and also of a rudder that controls a great ship. The bit is very small in comparison to the horse, yet it controls the horse. And the rudder is very small in comparison to the ship, but still controls the ship. And the tongue is very small in comparison to the body, but the tongue is able to control the body! Both the bit and the rudder must overcome forces that are working against them. The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse, and the rudder must overcome the winds and the currents that would drive the ship off course. Your tongue and my tongue must overcome a force that works against it. Our old nature wants to control us. Our old nature wants to make us sin. While the bit controls the horse, someone holds the reins. And while the rudder controls the ship, someone controls the rudder. Page 2 of 8
And you can t tame your tongue apart from the Holy Spirit. But, think about it. If our tongue, which is, according to James, the most volatile part of us, is under the control of the Holy Spirit, then it follows that the rest of us will be in submission to His control as well. J. A. Motyer said it like this: "If our tongue were so well under control that it refused to formulate the words of self-pity, the images of lustfulness, the thoughts of anger and resentment, then these things are cut down before they have a chance to live; the master switch has deprived them of any power to "switch on" that side of our lives. The control of the tongue is more than an evidence of spiritual maturity; it is the means to it." If our faith is to be worked out in our lives, our tongues must be under the control of the Holy Spirit! Let's look at 3) The Power of the Tongue to Destroy Verses 5b-8 Have you ever been on the receiving end of a destroying tongue? There are some people who speak first and then think. I've done plenty of that in my lifetime, but I usually think about some great thing I could have said, but I think of it two days later. And really, I believe that's a good thing. That's God's way of shielding me from saying a lot of things that would destroy a relationship, or a reputation, or someone's self-esteem. James uses fire as a symbol for the tongue. And the first thing James says about this fire is that it is able to grow. A great forest can be completely destroyed by just a little match. We've seen this happen time and time again, haven't we? James also tells us that this fire is the very world of iniquity. This doesn t refer to the earth or the universe. It refers to a system or an arrangement of evil and rebellion and lawlessness. This fire which is the tongue can be the source of unrighteous and ungodly behavior within every man. As we've already said, no other bodily part has such potential for disaster and destruction than does the tongue. James also tells us that this tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body. It is like smoke that penetrates and contaminates. Many homes that catch fire aren't completely burned up, but they are counted as loss because of the smoke damage. It stains and smells and it's almost impossible to eliminate. It defiles the whole house. James also tells us that this tongue sets on fire the course of our life. If we gossip and we lie, and we slander and we use filthy language and tell filthy jokes then, it will show in the life we live. The fourth thing James says is that the tongue is set on fire by hell. And I believe more than anything this indicates that the tongue is Satan's tool and it can fulfill hell's purposes to pollute, corrupt and destroy. The last thing we should allow is that Satan have access to our tongue! Page 3 of 8
Then James compares the tongue to a dangerous animal that cannot be tamed. It's amazing to me that James says every kind of beast and bird and reptile and sea creatures has been tamed by the human race but not the tongue! Noah certainly tamed all the animals, didn't he? He guided every specie of animal onto the Ark. These animals didn't attack Noah or his family they did what they were told. Today, we go to exhibits which show us how man has tamed the dolphin and the seal and the lion and the tiger and the elephant, not to mention the dog and the cat and the horse. But, no one has the power to tame the tongue. Even Christians, who have the indwelling Holy Spirit have tongues that can slip. David prayed, "Set a guard, O LORD over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." Well, before we leave the subject of the tongue, let's look at 4) The Power of the Tongue to Compromise This is a power that shouldn't be. You and I have the power to bless our Lord and Father and we also have the power to curse the very people who are made in His image. Don't you wish we just had the power to bless God and didn't have the power to curse people? Don't you wish God had just flipped a switch when we got saved and our tongue would no longer gossip or criticize or curse or do anything like that? And I believe this is really where our faith and works come in. If you are a Christian, then cursing should not come from your mouth. Verse 10 says, "My brethren, these things ought not to be this way." This "ought not" is a strong negative. The idea is that we should never compromise our position as Christians. When God transformed us, He gave us the capacity for new, redeemed, holy speech, and He expects us as His children to speak only that which is holy and right. And James explains this truth using three illustrations: a) He says a fountain doesn't send from the same opening both fresh and bitter water. b) He says a fig tree doesn't produce olives or a vine produce figs. c) He says salt water doesn't produce fresh water. A hateful heart cannot produce loving words or works. An unrighteous heart cannot produce righteous words or works. Jesus said men will know us by our fruits. What kind of fruits are folks seeing in your life when they hear your words? James said a fountain cannot produce fresh and bitter water at the same time. This reminds me of the time Moses had to put the tree in the waters at Marah to make them drinkable. That tree symbolized the Cross of Calvary. And if our tongues are producing bitter words, then we must apply the Cross to make our words sweet again. Page 4 of 8
Remember that James is speaking to Christians all of us are in danger of producing bitter words and the older we get, the more prone some of us are to do this. Maybe we re bitter about getting older, or about aches and pains that we didn t have when we were younger about circumstances in our life, about things not being the way we had thought they would be at our age whatever the cause of any bitterness in our lives that would result in bitter speech and bitter behavior, let s apply the Cross just as Moses applied the tree. God can use our tongue for His glory. Satan can use our tongue for his glory. We must make the decision! We must allow the Holy Spirit to control our tongue or our tongue will control us in a very bad way! No man can tame the wicked tongue, no man his soul can save, Only God can cleanse the heart and make the tongue behave. We must pray, "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, oh my Rock and my Redeemer." Well, in the time that we have left, let's look at Verses 13-18 Both the Old Testament and the New Testament make it very clear that there are two different kinds of wisdom. There is the wisdom of man and the wisdom of God. I want us to think about these two wisdoms what makes them different really contrast these two "wisdoms." And there are three contrasts we see here. First of all there is 1) The Contrast of Origins We see that in verses 15 and 17. There is a wisdom that comes from above, and there is a wisdom that comes from below. There is earthly wisdom. And there is heavenly wisdom. We could all tell stories about earthly wisdom. All of us have made decisions that seemed good at the time, but proved to be terrible! The Bible is full of examples of this The Tower of Babel seemed like such a wise thing to man, but it wasn't a wise thing to God and it ended in confusion and failure. Saul thought it would be wise to put his armor on little David, but God's plan was for David to fight Goliath in God's strength, not in his own strength or in Saul's armor. The disciples thought it would be a wise thing for the great crowd to take a break from the teaching of Jesus and go and find food for themselves, but Jesus thought it wiser for him to take a few loaves and fishes and feed the multitude and display His mighty power. Page 5 of 8
These are just a few examples of how man thinks one thing is wise and God thinks another thing is wise. The origin of man's wisdom is earthly, natural, demonic. The believer has three enemies: the world (earthly), the flesh (natural), and the devil (demonic). Do you know what God thinks about the wisdom of this world? First Corinthians calls the wisdom of man "foolishness to God" and 1 Corinthians also calls the wisdom of God "foolishness to man." Man's wisdom comes to him from his own reason but God's wisdom comes to man from revelation. Man's worldly reason comes to nothing it will all disappear. But, God's wisdom will go on throughout eternity. But, there is another source of man's wisdom and it is natural or fleshly as opposed to spiritual. I believe this is the fallen nature of man as opposed to the new nature that is his when he comes to Christ. And this verse tells us there is another source of man's wisdom and it is demonic. Ever since the beginning, Satan has pitted his wisdom against God's wisdom. He convinced Eve that what God had told her wasn't true that eating from the tree would make her like God. And from that day forward, men have believed the lies of Satan and unless and until you and I know the truth from God's Word, we will believe his lies as well. But, there is another wisdom there is a wisdom that isn't earthly, and natural, and demonic. There is a wisdom that is from above. Its source is the Lord Jesus Christ! We will never know the wisdom from above apart from receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. "In Jesus Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge " (Col. 2:3) I heard it put this way, Wisdom commences at conversion and deepens through discipleship. I pray that all of us at some point in our lives have realized that we were a sinner and that we needed a Savior and that we could not save ourselves but the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work at Calvary could! The Word of God is also our wisdom! "The Scriptures," Paul told Timothy, "are able to make us wise unto salvation." James also tells us wisdom comes when we pray. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God." I think it s interesting that the Bible never tells us to ask for knowledge. Knowledge comes from study. Wisdom comes from revelation. If you don t have knowledge, study! If you don t have wisdom ask God! Wisdom gives us the ability to understand the knowledge we have. The bottom line of this is that true wisdom comes from God! We don't have to rely on the counterfeit wisdom of the world that caters to the flesh and accomplishes the work of the devil! We need to get our wisdom from God! Not only do we see a contrast of the origins of wisdom, but we also see the Page 6 of 8
2) The Contrast in Operations God's wisdom operates in a different way from the wisdom from below. They originate from opposite places, and they operate in opposite ways. Verse 14 gives us the evidence of false wisdom. The evidence of false wisdom is bitter jealousy. Another evidence of false wisdom is selfish ambition. Even the disciples fell prey to these jealousy and ambition. They argued over who would be the greatest in Christ's kingdom, didn't they? Verse 14 also tells us an evidence of false wisdom is arrogance and deceit. When knowledge or false wisdom is at work, we get puffed up and arrogant and think we re something. When God's wisdom is at work, there is a sense of humility and submission and we ll want God to get the glory! On the other hand, the evidences of spiritual wisdom are found in verses 13 and 17 gentleness, purity, peace, reasonableness, mercy, good fruits decisiveness and sincerity. What a contrast in the way true wisdom operates and the way false wisdom operates! There is one more contrast we need to look at and we'll be through 3) The Contrast of Outcomes (James 3:16, 18) Worldly wisdom produces trouble. It produces disorder and every evil thing. One reason the world is in such a mess is because men have refused to accept the wisdom of God. They have followed their own wisdom, and look at the world look at our nation! The wisdom of our world says, "Anything goes!" The wisdom of our world says, "If it feels good, do it!" The wisdom of our world says, "I'm okay. You're okay!" The wisdom of our world says, "You only go around once in life!" The wisdom of our world says, "Get all you can. Can all you get. Sit on the can." The wisdom of our world says, "Abortion is a choice." The wisdom of our world says, "Homosexuality is just an alternate lifestyle." But, thank the Lord, there is another wisdom and the outcome of that wisdom is so different! Verse 18 tells us there is a vast difference between man-made results and God-given fruit. Fruit is the product of life, and fruit has in it the seeds for more fruit. The fruit of God s wisdom is that we seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto us. The fruit of God s wisdom is that we study to show ourselves approved unto God, unashamed and rightly dividing the Word of truth. The fruit of God s wisdom is that we are always ready to give a reason for the hope that is within us. Page 7 of 8
The fruit of God s wisdom is that those around us can see the Lord Jesus Christ working in our lives day after day after day. The Christian life is a life of sowing and reaping. Really, every life sows and reaps, doesn't it? We reap just what we sow! So, I believe the bottom line of this passage is this Do we want our lives controlled by the wisdom of the world? Do we want to sow strife and envy and arrogance and deceit? Or do we want our lives controlled by the wisdom that comes from the Holy Spirit? Faith and works What kind of works will abide after we're gone? Will our children and our grandchildren and whatever lives we touched remember our righteousness? Or, will our works be wood, hay and stubble burned up because they were based on the wisdom of this world? Nothing this world has to offer is to even be compared with the good gifts that are ours in Christ. These gifts can be passed down to others. And they can be multiplied for generations to come! My prayer is that we have learned something about the tongue today and also about the wisdom that comes from God. Page 8 of 8