Welcome back to
Daily Bread! James has some more great lessons for us today. They say you
learn something new every day, so sit back and relax and get ready to learn
something that I bet you’ll wish you learned a long time ago.
My friends, don’t
wish to all be teachers, knowing that we will receive more severe judgment.
(Remember what Jesus said,
Matthew 23:8, Don’t let anyone call you Rabbi
[teacher], because only One is your Master, which is Christ, and all of you
are friends.)
What a great chunk of
advice that is. You know how we all like to take credit for enlightening
someone about . . . well, practically anything. And then you get that
momentary rush of pride, when you feel like sitting up a little taller
because you inspired someone. Well, James is saying, Uh, that wasn’t your
doing. It was Christ. Give credit where credit is due. You are a friend
sharing the incentive that Christ gave you through the
Holy Spirit,
so remember who you are. You may step down now, off the Holy Spirit’s
shoulders and share TRUTH of where this insight came from.
Now, James points
out that we should also be careful of the things that we say because we also
stumble and during our fall, we hurt other people. Have you ever done that?
Or rather, I should ask, who hasn’t? Let me give you an example of this.
You’re talking about something that you’ve never really, truly, studied. You
don’t have a clue what your opinion about it is, yet you continue to talk,
just to talk. Then later . . . Oh my! What have you said? You can’t believe
the things that were uttered out of your very own mouth. When you get a good
grip on your foot and yank it out of your mouth, you go through that little
pride thing where you make excuses for what you said, and then finally
you decide to reach up for the forgiving hand of God and just admit, I was
wrong, and I’m sorry. Whew! Why do we do it over and over again?
A spoken word is
an invisible thing, yet it can do so much damage. James shares this in his
letter.
In many things we
offend all. If anyone doesn’t offend in word, he is a perfect (complete)
man, and is able to control his entire body (self). We put bits in the
horses’ mouths, so they’ll obey us, and we turn about (control) their whole
body (Psalm 32:9). Also the ships, even though they’re massive, and driven
by fierce winds, yet they’re turned around with a very small helm, wherever
the steersman wishes.
Likewise, the
tongue is a little part of the body, and boasts great things. Look, how
great a matter a little fire kindles! And
, a world of
sin. And being a part (included) it defiles (makes dirty) the whole body,
and sets on fire the course of nature (it destroys life), and it is set on
(originated by) fire of hell.
Don’t forget also,
that you’re a part of the body of Christ, which means that your words can
start a fire that can consume other Christians as well.
Every kind of
beast, bird, serpent, and things in the sea, are tamed, and have been tamed
of mankind (Genesis 1:28), but the tongue can no man tame, it is an unruly
evil, full of deadly poison.
I like the way
King James interprets these three verses of James letter.
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.
Don’t you just love TRUTH?
James goes on with
more for us to ponder. Does a fountain send out at the same place, sweet
water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my friends, bear olive berries? Or a
vine, figs? Neither can a stream produce salt water and fresh water.
Who is a wise man and
has knowledge among you? Let him show with good conduct, his works, with
meekness of wisdom.
Notice that James
comes back to his original point about works, but he warns, don’t let your
own words get in your way. Be meek.
If you have
jealousy and quarreling in your hearts, don’t be proud, and don’t fight
against TRUTH. This kind of wisdom isn’t from above, but is earthly,
fleshly, devilish. Where jealousy and strife (dissension or selfishness) is,
there is disorder and every evil work, but the wisdom that comes from above
is first pure, then peaceable, gentle and easy to be dealt with, 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 (Proverbs 11:18).
So what is James’
message here in a nutshell? Friends, the only fire that should come from
your tongue is the fire of the Holy Spirit. It will be of TRUTH or meekness
or righteousness or peace or all of these. Don’t let your works of faith get
all burned up by the fire of the tongue. Speak wisely.
Hope you have a
day kindled with the kindness of the Holy Spirit and I hope to see you again
soon, right back here at Daily Bread.
