Wednesday, August 11

Maybe someone said something about you. They didn’t like something you said so they took it and blew it out of proportion. They don’t like your new boyfriend so they told everyone he’s a socialist or worse, a White Sox fan. They saw you do something they didn’t approve of, and rather than talk to you about it they just went around and told everyone else about it.

Maybe you have that friend, or that family member who is always telling you other people’s business. So they are constantly telling you about his drinking problem, or her anger issues. They always seem to know what really happened and love to tell you about it.

Maybe you said something. Maybe your sister did something and your first reaction is to make sure everyone knows it. Maybe a co-worker made you angry and you find yourself word vomiting stories about them that paints a bad picture of their character.

Whatever the case may be, we’ve all found ourselves in similar situations where she said something about you behind your back, or he told you something about her, or maybe it’s you, you’re the one who tells the news.

James deals with this quite clearly in chapter 3.

3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or 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. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The 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.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. - James 3.3-12

Is James saying that if we can keep our tongue in check, we’ll be perfect? Like if we never swear, never say something mean about anyone, never complain, never lie, never gossip, then we’ll be perfect?

I think James is saying that the tongue is an indicator of the whole.

So, if the tongue is an indicator of the whole, the question is: what is it indicating?

Before James answers that question, he points out that the tongue can really only be used for good or for evil. The tongue, though only a small part of the body can be use for good and can steer us in the right direction.

But James points out that the opposite is true as well. This little tiny part of the body, can destroy the whole thing.

I like this phrase: “a world of evil.” James uses the greek word “kosmos”, which when linked to the word evil, usually suggests opposition to GOD. Essentially, he’s saying that the tongue indicates whether or not we are in opposition to GOD.

So, once again, if the tongue is an indicator of the whole, the question is: what is it indicating? Look back at verses 9-12. The tongue indicates what is in our hearts, it shows whether or not we really, genuinely love GOD and love OTHERS.

Two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time. It’s impossible. This is essentially what James is saying. You cannot love GOD and at the same time hate another human being. And for James the indicator of this is what comes out of our mouths.

If you have praise of GOD coming out of your mouth and cursing of men, then one is disingenuous.

Love of GOD and hatred of others are not compatible. The two things cannot occupy our hearts at the same time. The deeper reason is because we are all made in the image of GOD, so cursing of men is cursing of the image of GOD.

And here is what James is saying. If cursing comes out of your mouth, if you swear, if you gossip, if you slander, if you lie, if you find yourself complaining, that is an indicator of what is truly in your heart and it is not love of GOD and love of OTHERS.

The solution is fresh water, what you put in is what comes out. If you want fresh water to come out, you have to put fresh water in.

James is teaching us that the tongue is an indicator of what we put in. Essentially, our tongues reveal what is in our hearts.

So, what is in your heart? What have you been putting lately? Is that what has been coming out?

Ken Lippold