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James 3:1-2
James 3:1-2
One of the key words in the epistle of James is the word perfect. It’s used six times and it refers to maturity in the Christian life. Now one mark of maturity is the ability to control the tongue. This is what James says in James 3:1-2, “My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater judgement. For in many things we all stumble. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, [a mature man] and able also to bridle the whole body.” Quite a statement isn’t it?
I get the impression that among the people to whom James was writing there was a lot of competition. They all wanted to be teachers in the church they all wanted to be teaching the Word of God. And James said, “Now wait just a minute. Do you know what you’re saying?” A teacher has to use his tongue, now the tongue is an easy member to lead you astray. In many things we all stumble. “If any man does not stumble in his words he is a mature man. And you can be sure he can control his whole body” (paraphrase). James seems to be saying here that the hardest part of the body to control is the tongue. I wonder if you and I have not experienced that.
Stop to think of the blessedness of the privilege of speech. If you could not speak, think of how much you would lose? You couldn’t talk to your loved ones, if you couldn’t talk to instruct your children. You couldn’t praise God; you could praise Him in your heart of course, you could pray in your heart. You’d have a difficult time witnessing to the lost. Oh, the blessedness of speech, but oh, the seriousness of speech.
We sometimes take it for granted. We say well talk is cheap, oh no, talk is very expensive for those of us who use our tongues, especially in ministry, are going to face the greater judgment. And I sometimes read that verse and I tremble. We’re going to face a more severe judgment and we also can cause more severe problems. We can cause other people to stumble by the way we use our tongues. James is going to have great deal to say about the tongue in the rest of this chapter, but right now for today let’s just recognize the blessedness and the seriousness of speech and let’s give this gift to the Lord.
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By Back to the BibleJames 3:1-2
One of the key words in the epistle of James is the word perfect. It’s used six times and it refers to maturity in the Christian life. Now one mark of maturity is the ability to control the tongue. This is what James says in James 3:1-2, “My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive the greater judgement. For in many things we all stumble. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, [a mature man] and able also to bridle the whole body.” Quite a statement isn’t it?
I get the impression that among the people to whom James was writing there was a lot of competition. They all wanted to be teachers in the church they all wanted to be teaching the Word of God. And James said, “Now wait just a minute. Do you know what you’re saying?” A teacher has to use his tongue, now the tongue is an easy member to lead you astray. In many things we all stumble. “If any man does not stumble in his words he is a mature man. And you can be sure he can control his whole body” (paraphrase). James seems to be saying here that the hardest part of the body to control is the tongue. I wonder if you and I have not experienced that.
Stop to think of the blessedness of the privilege of speech. If you could not speak, think of how much you would lose? You couldn’t talk to your loved ones, if you couldn’t talk to instruct your children. You couldn’t praise God; you could praise Him in your heart of course, you could pray in your heart. You’d have a difficult time witnessing to the lost. Oh, the blessedness of speech, but oh, the seriousness of speech.
We sometimes take it for granted. We say well talk is cheap, oh no, talk is very expensive for those of us who use our tongues, especially in ministry, are going to face the greater judgment. And I sometimes read that verse and I tremble. We’re going to face a more severe judgment and we also can cause more severe problems. We can cause other people to stumble by the way we use our tongues. James is going to have great deal to say about the tongue in the rest of this chapter, but right now for today let’s just recognize the blessedness and the seriousness of speech and let’s give this gift to the Lord.