The Tongue Is A Fire

This week, I'd like to discuss the power of the tongue, the damage as well as the good that it can do, and the great responsibility that we are faced with in regards to the use of our tongue. Our main text will be the third chapter of James, but we'll also look at several other verses throughout the bible which have application to the use of the tongue. So, we'll begin with James, chapter 3, looking at a few verses at a time, and discuss their meaning...v.1,2 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. James warns us here of the greater responsibility that a teacher, or a preacher, has in regards to the leading of God's people, and the fact that speaking the truth, even when it is done in love, is going to be offensive to many. We all, no matter how pure our intentions may be, will slip from time to time, and say the wrong things, or fail to say the right things, and a teacher faces stronger repercussions for these very human failings. v.3-5 Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! The horse, though a very powerful animal, is controlled by man when he places a bit in its mouth, thereby forcefully rendering void the will of the animal, and taking control over its actions. The same applies to a ship. Though massive in size, a very small rudder is used to steer and guide the ship where the captain wants it to go. These principles are applied in a very fitting analogy to the tongue, and to the fact that although it is a small member, its power cannot be overstated. James further poetically states, "how great a matter a little fire kindleth!", and to continue the thought, even a raging forest fire begins with a single spark.

This analogy of the tongue to a fire is continued in v.6...And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. Here, James strongly asserts just how powerful and deadly the tongue really is, that it is a world of iniquity, that is it the one member of our body that can defile us, and has the power to set fire to any good thing that we may have done or said with one single harsh word. v.7-10...For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James here further proves his point by contrasting the taming power of mankind over the animals with his inability to tame his own tongue. Here, the tongue seems to take on a life of its own, as James tells us that it is an unruly evil that no man can tame. We have to understand that we will never, as human beings subject to frailty and weakness, be able to fully control our tongues, and that we must do all within our power to limit the damage that this deadly poison incurs on others. James told us in verse 2 that if any man did not offend in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body. We know that we cannot hope to attain this level of perfection as long as we are in this earthly body. Proverbs 21:23 tells us...Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles. Psalms 34:13 says...Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Ah, if only it were that easy! Psalms 52:2 says...Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. And Proverbs 18:21 tells us...Death and life are in the power of the tongue...1 Peter 3:10 says...For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile. Certainly solid advice, although quite impossible to follow. Let's continue our reading in James, chapter 3, with verse 11 and read the rest of the chapter...Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness and wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. These verses bring to mind James' warning in chapter 1, verse 8...A double minded man is unstable in all his ways. How many times I have thought of that verse, and how it is so inexplicably applicable to me. Though I want to do good, to say good, to BE good, I know in reality that I am the double minded man that James was speaking of. And, just as this verse applies to me, so do the verses we've just read, in that the good that I would like to do, and try to do, seems to me to be in many ways nothing more than hypocrisy, when I consider my many frailties and weaknesses, my judgmental thoughts, and negative attitudes. But perhaps this is just what James is trying to convey to us here. Let us not consider ourselves to be wise, for we are yet carnal. Our best intentions belie an innate leaning toward darkness, because we are born under, and bound by, original sin. It is only through the precious blood of Jesus that we can ever hope to be cleansed, purified, and sanctified. Only through the grace of God can we be reconciled back and be acceptable in His sight, and only His Spirit can lead us into the paths of righteousness. Let us pray for God's guidance, for His help with our weaknesses, for His mercy in our failings, and for His strength to help us control the natural inclination to use our tongues for evil, that we would speak kindness, and peace, and show His love to the world around us.