TAMING THE TONGUE JAMES 3:1-12

TAMING THE TONGUE
JAMES 3: 1 - 12

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   1) Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.  2) We all stumble in many ways.  If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

   3) When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal.  4) Or take ships as an example.  Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.  5) Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.  Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  6) The tongue is also a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

   7) All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8) but no man can tame the tongue.  It is a  restless evil, full of deadly poison.

   9) With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.  10) Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers, this should not be. 11)  Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12)  My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?  Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.  James 3: 1-12  (NIV)

LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE NOTES

   What you say and what you don't say are both important.  Proper speech is not only saying the right words at the right time, but it is also controlling your desire to say what you shouldn't. 

Examples of an untamed tongue include gossiping, putting others down, bragging, manipulating, false teaching, exaggerating, complaining, flattering, and lying.  Before you speak, ask,"Is what I want to say true?  Is it necessary?  Is it kind?

   James compares the damage the tongue can do to a raging fire--the tongue's wickedness has its source in hell itself.  The uncontrolled tongue can do terrible damage.  Satan uses the tongue to divide people and pit them against one another.  Idle and hateful words are damaging because they spread destruction quickly, and no one can stop the results once they are spoken.  We dare not be careless with what we say, thinking we can apologize later, because even if we do, the scars remain.  A few words spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to build.  Before you speak, remember that words are like fire---you can neither control nor reverse the damage they can do.

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