Watch Your Language

Are words more powerful when they build up or when they destroy?

What we say is enormously important in life. If we learn to control our speech, we will be mature in other areas in our lives.

Wrongful use of words has devastating effects on home and church life. This lesson reminds us that the mouth is connected to the mind, which means that the key to right talk is right thought.

The Awesome Power of Words    (James 3:1-6)

 ¹ Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment; ² for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body. ³ Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. ⁴ And consider ships: though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. ⁵ So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our [bodies]; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.

The early church had many teachers called by God and gifted by the Spirit. But there were also some who wanted the honor of teaching but lacked the calling, gifts, knowledge, and maturity to teach accurately and effectively. The church consequently had problems not only with false teachers (2 Peter 2:1) but also with unfit teachers. This explains the command not many should become teachers. Christians should hesitate to seek the office of teacher – we will receive a stricter judgment.  
The context of the statement we all stumble in many ways points to misusing speech. Because teachers speaking in error can mislead believers in both understanding and behavior, they will be held to a higher level of accountability.
Verses 3-6 use three illustrations to show that the power of the tongue is way out of proportion to its size.
Horses and Bits: we control huge horses by putting a relatively small bit into their mouths. A slight tug of the reins attached to the bit controls even an unruly horse’s direction and pace.
Ships and Rudders: In spite of their size and being at times driven by fierce winds, ships are guided by a small rudder under the control of the pilot.
Though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. The term for boasts in this context speaks of arrogant or perhaps even threatening boasts.

The Dual Nature of Words   (James 3:7-12)

⁷ For every creature—animal or bird, reptile or fish—is tamed and has been tamed by man, ⁸ but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way. ¹¹ Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine [produce] figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
We show our moral inconsistency by using the same tongue to bless God and insult His people.
At creation God gave humanity “rule” over every living creature in the sea, in the air, and on the earth (Gen 1:28). People have exercised this rule, though not always wisely, ever since.
The tongue however, resists being tamed. To say the tongue is a restless evil means it’s liable to break out at any moment. Think of a wild animal pacing back and forth in its cage, longing to escape. Although people can cage an animal, the tongue is always ready to slip out of control. Like a rattlesnake, the tongue lies in wait with its deadly poison to bite the first target of opportunity. 
Verse 9 addresses the inconsistent way we use our tongues. When we Christians bless (or praise) our Lord and Father and then turn right around and curse people who are made in God’s likeness, we call into question the genuineness of our words of praise. While God’s likeness in humans has been marred by sin, it has not been obliterated. His likeness is reflected to some degree in every person. Thus, to curse or invoke evil on people God has made in His image is to curse the Creator Himself.
Blessing and cursing come out of the same mouth. Things should not be this way means that blessing God at one time and cursing others at another time are morally and spiritually contradictory.
To bless God and curse God’s creation is against nature, both physical and spiritual. Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?  Of course not.
Verbal abusers who think they can praise God deceive themselves. Their praises are not genuine, but their abuses are painfully real.
Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine [produce] figs? James meaning is clear. Our words (fruit) reveal what out hearts (root) contain.
Words used properly can inspire a sports team to do its best, encourage war battled people to persevere, or offer comfort, hope, joy, guidance, and instruction. James’s words about the tongues powerful influence are themselves an example of words used to a positive end. Our tongues highest use is to offer praise to the Lord.

The Wise Use of Words    (James 3:13-18)

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? He should show his works by good conduct with wisdom's gentleness. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your heart, don't brag and lie in defiance of the truth. ¹⁵ Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every kind of evil. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without favoritism and hypocrisy. ¹⁸ And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

According to verse 13, true wisdom is demonstrated by good conduct with wisdom’s gentleness. It has more to do with character in relationships than with education and intelligence. Our relationships show how wise we really are. A gentle person is humble, puts others first, and does not allow pride to destroy relationships. This person promotes peace, and unity in the church. Conversely, one governed by pride and arrogance brings about conflict and division.

James described two kinds of wisdom; the worldly and the Godly. Worldly wisdom is characterized by bitter envy and selfish ambition. James warned against operating out of a jealous, deceptive, partisan, hostile spirit. Such attitudes can tear apart a congregation. James admonished all believers not to brag as though their self centered attitudes or actions were virtues.

Believers who allow worldly wisdom to guide them bring disorder and every kind of evil into their churches.

James described the wisdom from above as pure. To live by Godly wisdom means to act morally, to maintain spiritual integrity, and to harbor no selfish attitudes or motives. This wisdom is also peace loving. It leads believers to embrace everyone in the church, thus it does not lead to rivalries and factions.

True wisdom treats others and their views with respect, grace, and love.