Taming The Tongue

Sunday Service

James 3:1-12

In these twelve verses, James sought to impress on his readers the necessity of taming their tongues by exposing SIX POWERFUL INFLUENCES of the tongue. In other words, the tongue has the power to do six things.

1. TESTS OUR TEACHERS (v. 1)
The more you talk, the more likely it is that you will sin (Proverbs 10:19). Teachers must avoid both hypocrisy and heresy. What a teacher says tells about whether or not what they say lines up with Scripture.

2. MEASURES OUR MATURITY (v. 2)
All of us sin with our mouths, so our mouth is one of the best indicators of our spiritual maturity because what we say is a reflection of what lies in our heart.

3. DETERMINES OUR DIRECTION (vv. 3-5a)
Although our tongues are a relatively small part of our anatomy, they carry much power and influence - much like the rudder of a great ship, or a horse’s bit. What we say affects everyone around us either positively or negatively. Moreover, words can cause injuries to the heart that have long-lasting effects.

4. IGNITES OUR INIQUITY (vv. 5b-6)
James likens the tongue to a tiny spark, which can light an entire forest on fire. Whether intentional or unintentional, the mere spark of a tongue can damage another person’s life (Proverbs 16:37, 26:18).

5. DEFIES OUR DOMINATION (vv. 7-8)
When God made man, He gave him dominion over all of the animals. But like a serpent, man is not able to tame his own tongue (Psalm 58:3, 140:3). Only the supernatural power of God can tame the tongues of men.

6. HIGHLIGHTS OUR HYPOCRISY (vv. 9-12)
One minute we curse God, and the next we seem to curse people, who were created by God in His own image. This is hypocrisy.

Cry out to God to help you control your tongue so that nothing ever comes out of your mouth that is not pleasing to Him but only that which is gracious and edifying to others (cf. Ephesians 4:29; Colossians 4:6).