Taming the Tongue in Times of Trials: Part-2

Last week we looked at the first 2 verses of James chapter 3. We saw what happens when the tongue is used in an evil way. The effect that an untamed tongue causes is very dangerous.

In Psalm 32 we learnt that sin not only affects the person who commits it; but affects those who are close to that person. The similar thing is true with regards to our tongue. If we are not careful with our tongue we will cause much harm to ourselves as well as to those who are close to us. So, there is an urgent need to look at ourselves and ask a question: How do we use our tongue? Because our tongue has a direct connection to our heart. Jesus said in Matthew 12:36, “I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.”

Therefore, we need to understand the seriousness of the words that we use in our daily conversations.

With that in mind may I invite you to open your Bibles to James chapter 3, and we shall all read from vs. 1-12.

This morning we shall consider the second point that we left last week. And the name of that point was: “The Illustrations of an Tongue.” But before that let me begin with a short story.

A story is told of John Wesley; the founder of the Methodist Church. In his Church there was a lady who was very critical of him. And most of the times her criticisms were about his clothing. One Sunday morning after the Church service was over the pastor stood outside the Church to greet everybody. This lady arrived there and started criticizing the Pastor saying that his tie was too long; and it needed to be cut. John Wesley immediately ordered for a scissor to be brought. After the scissor arrived the pastor let the lady cut the tie to its appropriate length. After that John Wesley said to her; “Madam, can you please take your tongue out from your mouth? The lady enquired, “Why?” “John Wesley said, I think your tongue is too long I need to make it short.”

Now, James doesn’t give any such instruction to go around and cut down those long tongues. But he is certainly warning his readers about the negative effects that a tongue can cause on people.

So, here is the title for our message this morning:

“Taming the Tongue in Times of Trials.” Part-2

1.      The Illustrations of Tongue: vs. 3-5

: The Positive Illustrations:

a.      Horse

b. Ship

: The Negative Illustrations

a.      Fire

b.     A World of Unrighteousness

c.      A Restless Evil

d.     Deadly Poison

1.      The Positive Illustrations:

Last week we saw the instruction that James gave to his readers. It was an instruction to his readers not to become teachers. We also learnt about the reasons why James warned his readers not to become teachers.

When we come down to vs. 3, 4 James is giving the Positive as well as negative Illustrations of what Tongue can do.

So, notice vs. 3 & 4, “If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us; we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”

I must say that what James is saying here is exactly what God said to David in the Psalm 32. In Psalm 32 we saw that God rebuked David for being foolish. And there also God uses the illustration of a Horse or a Mule. Because they need bits and bridles in order to control them, quickly look at Psalms 32:9, “Don't be like the horse, or like the mule, which have no understanding, who are controlled by bit and bridle, or else they will not come near to you.”

It’s amazing to see that James is using the same illustration to instruct his readers what tongue can do. And first of all James gives the illustration of a Horse.

He says, “If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us; we guide their whole bodies as well.”

We all have seen horses in our lives. Horse is an extremely heavy animal. Though it’s a heavy animal it is a muscular animal. The horse is not heavy like that of a Sumo wrestler. It weighs around half a ton; it has got an amazing power within. Even if you put a heavy weight lifting man on the Horse’s back it breaths easily and carry that heavy man on its back with ease. We are told that a horse can run a quarter mile within less than 25 seconds. In His book, “The Disciplines of Godly Men,” R. Kent Hughes describes a Horse as, “half a ton of raw power.” But if you put bit in its mouth that same horse which has an amazing power, can be effectively controlled. It’s an amazing illustration of how a gigantic thing could be controlled by a small thing.

The second positive illustration that James gives is of a ship.

Once again he uses something gigantic which is steered by a very small thing.

If we all know that all types of ships; smaller or bigger in size they all are driven by the rudder.

The bigger ships are approximately 500 meters long and they weigh around 1.5-2 Lakhs of tons.

Looking at the size of the ship we may think it’s unmanageable. They are driven by fierce winds but they are steered by a small thing. Whoever has the control of the rudder has the control of the ship. Because they take the direction where the pilot wants to take it. And what I think is: when James gives this illustration he has in his mind the motivating ability the tongue has. The tongue has an amazing power to motivate people. It has a great power to guide people in the way they should go. James has an idea of the positive things tongue can produce if it is used properly. That’s why he uses the illustration of something bigger which is driven by a minute thing. Notice the imagery James uses about a strong wind that drives the ship but is guided by a small rudder.

When we come to vs. 5, James says, “So also the tongue is a small member yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire?”

After giving appropriate illustrations of horse and ship; James now goes on to explain the similar kind of power the tongue has. That’s why he says, “So also…”

The tongue is the small part in the body. As compare to the body our tongue is a small part. What James is saying here is that: whatever the bits and bridles do to the horses; or rudder does to the ships. That’s exactly what tongue does to a person. The idea is the tongue is in a complete control of a man. It is he who decides how to use it.

Application:

Last week we learnt that our hearts and our tongues are very closely linked with one another. We cannot separate one from another. What we think in the depths of our hearts is, exactly what comes out of our hearts. The sum total of our words is our heart. That’s why Jesus told His disciples, in Matthew 12:36, “I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the Day of Judgment.”

I heard of a story of a Pastor. One lady in the Church spread some lies about that Pastor about his character. The gossip spread like a wild fire. Eventually that Pastor had to lose his ministry because of that gossip. One fine day that lady returned to the Pastor in utter disgust of what she had done to him. She realized the kind of moral assault she had caused on that Pastor. When she came into the Pastor’s house she started apologizing to him and started to ask him what she should do so that the guilt doesn’t remain on her part.

The pastor asked that lady to take the pillow that was on his desk. Then he asked her to spoil the pillow and take all the feathers and throw them around. She did it, and then the Pastor told her to gather those scattered feathers. The lady said, but pastor that’s not possible! The Pastor gently said, that’s the point, you cannot do anything to repair the damage that has been caused.

This story tells us to use our words carefully brothers and sisters.

2.      The Negative Illustrations of Tongue: vs. 5b-12

(Read the verses)

In the previous point we saw the positive illustrations of tongue. From vs. 5b up until vs. 12 James gives the negative illustrations of tongue. Notice how he names the tongue. a. Small fire, b. world of unrighteousness, c. restless evil, d. full of deadly poison.

So, altogether James uses 4 negative illustrations of tongue in order to prove his point. And James does this in order to show his readers man’s inclination to use his tongue in a negative way.

First of all James uses Fire as the negative illustration for the tongue. If you observe fire it has both negative and positive aspects. If used positively fire can be a great source of energy. If used negatively fire also has the power to burn and tear down everything. And in this context James is having the negative illustration of fire.

Just like sin has the ability to corrupt the whole person; fire also has the ability to corrupt a person.

What we understand through this is that: the kind of influence fire has; is the same kind of influence tongue has. Fire burns as long as it gets its fuel. And so James has the destructive illustration of fire in his mind.

Story:

In the October 1871 in United States of America; a lady was milking her cow in the evening. It seems there in her manger there was a lantern was burning. The cow kicked the pillar on which this lantern was hanging. Many people say that because there was a lot of hay in the manger the fire quickly spread throughout the city. This fire destroyed around 17,500 buildings, 300 people died and 1, 25,000 people became homeless because of that fire. Many people say that the fire spread around 81 kms. The reason was the fire that started because of a little bit of carelessness.

That’s why in vs. 6 James says, “And the tongue is a fire. The world of iniquity among our members is the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature, and is set on fire by Gehenna.” It means that tongue starts a fire.

The word Gehenna means hell. Gehenna was a place outside of Jerusalem. Jesus said that this was a place where the worm doesn’t die and the fire doesn’t quench (Mark 9:47-48). It was a place which was reserved for garbage of all the city of Jerusalem where it was constantly burning and because it’s a waste there was all kinds of filthiness that was present there where stink and worms was a common thing.

E.g. If you want to have a look of what Gehenna must be looking like. All you need to do is just go on the road to Kasba Bawda. You will get the exact picture of Gehenna.

In other words tongue starts conflict because of an evil report that is spread through means of gossip. Then James uses this word for tongue that; it’s a world of evil. What it means is that: all the evil that is present in the world has its origin in the tongue.

And finally he uses the word ‘deadly poison’ vs. 8. The effect of fire and the effect of poison are similar. Because just as the way fire spreads; poison also spreads in the body until it has taken the life of the victim.

And this is the case because in vs. 7,8, James says, “For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue...”

Application:

Two boys on the school playground were discussing a classmate. One of them remarked, "He's no good at sports."  The other quickly responded, "Yes, but he always plays fair."  The critical one added, "He isn't very smart in school either."  His friend answered, "That may be true, but he studies hard."  The boy with the mean tongue was becoming exasperated with the attitude of the other.  "Well," he sneered, "did you ever notice how ragged his clothes are?"  The other boy kindly replied, "Yes, but did you ever notice, they're always clean!"  Every negative observation was countered by a positive one.

   What an excellent example for us to follow!  Let's refrain from "evil speaking" and be "kind to one another" (Eph. 4:31,32). Rather than contributing to the spirit of criticism, let's be known as those who cancel it.