So, the tongue is also a little member, and boasts great things. See how a small fire can spread to a large forest! James 3:5 WEB
God himself spoke the heavens and the earth into esistence and Jesus Christ is the Word of God. Considering this, we begin to understand the tremendous power of words. In chapter three of his first epistle, James, the brother of Jesus, teaches about the taming of the tongue. Of course, what he means by the tongue is the spoken word. When we speak, we should be careful to honor God, spreading his truth and not starting destructive fires with foolish speech.
Solomon writes in Proverbs 18:21, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit. WEB” James agrees with this notion writing in James 3:8-10, “but nobody can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth comes blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. WEB”
Big Results From Small Things
Writing similar words to his, “a small fire can spread,” James makes comparisons with relatively small things that produce powerful outcomes. He mentions how we use a bit in a horse’s mouth to cause the horse to obey commands, directing the entirety of its powerful body. Comparing the tongue to a ship’s rudder, James describes how the tiny rudder guides a massive ship to its destination.
The message is that our speech should be carefully chosen to produce desirable outcomes in accordance to the will of God. In consideration of the difficulty of perfecting speech, James warns that very few should be teachers because of the potential to misuse words. He indicates that judgment is heavier and more critical for those who teach the word of God.
In addition, James teaches that those who learn to control their tongue will therefore have the ability to control the rest of their bodies. In other words, self control begins with the ability to control our speech. When it comes to our words, what begins as a small fire can spread out of control quickly. Knowing this, we should be careful to use our words to build each other up and take special care to cause no harm to ourselves and others.
Prayer: “Father God, thank you for the wisdom in your holy word. I understand that a small fire can spread. Help me to use my words wisely in the service of your kingdom. Help me to speak in a way that honors you and blesses your people. In Jesus’ name – Amen”
Yesterday’s Devotional: To Gain the Whole World
