The Tongue, Consider the Possibilities
While looking for tidbits about the use of the tongue, I ran across a rather interesting quote: Can it be that the average person spends one-fifth of his or her life talking? That's what the statistics say. If all of our words were put into print, the result would be this: a single day's words would fill a 50-page book, while in a year's time the average person's words would fill 132 books of 200 pages each!
This being true, I think we can see the importance of using our tongues wisely. When we do, behold the possibilities.
The Tongue Should be Constructive
Here is how James 3 begins: "My brethren, be not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation" (3:1). In an overall context that dwells on the proper use of the tongue are words to public teachers.
Not every Christian should teach in a leadership capacity (i.e. Bible Class teachers, preachers, etc.) (1 Cor. 12:28; 12:17). Only those who spend time with the Word, and then applying the Word should be allowed to teach--"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tm. 4:16). Only the faithful are qualified to be teachers—"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Tm. 2:2).
Think about the constructive possibility of the tongue. It has the ability to bring a precious student to Christ for the salvation of the soul. It has the potential to encourage the young to pursue a life of spiritual excellence-- faithfulness. It has the capability of instructing the young adults how to be successful in child rearing. It can tell the aged saint about the responsibility of teaching the younger. It offers encouragement to the discouraged; help to the helpless; hope to those in pain; life to the one experiencing death. Oh the constructive possibility of the tongue!
The Tongue Should be Controlled
Without question, the tongue is a difficult member of the body to control--yea, the most difficult. Benedict de Spinoza said, "Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues...". James, the inspired writer said, "But the tongue can no man tame [it cannot continually be tamed]; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (Jas. 3:8).
When the tongue is not controlled, it is "a fire, a world of iniquity" (Jas. 3:6). "It defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of Hell [gehenna]" (Jas. 3:6). When it is not continually being tamed, the tongue is "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (Jas. 38).
In "Growing Strong", Swindoll quoted Publius, a Greek sage who observed, "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence". Willian Norris, the American journalist who specialized in simple rhythms that packed a wallop once wrote: "If your lips would keep from slips, Five things observe with care: To whom you speak; of whom you speak; And how, and when, and where".
Oh if we could only learn to control our tongues. If we could see the potential for tragedy ahead of time, maybe we would be more careful. "Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" (Jas. 3:5).
The Tongue Should be Consistent
Perhaps James was looking out his window at one of the fountains of Palestine when he wrote, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?...no fountain [can] both yield salt water and fresh" (Jas. 3:11,12). Maybe an olive tree caught his eye when he wrote, "Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs?" (Jas. 3:12).
James reminds today's reader that it is impossible to for one to say that which is righteous, and then say what is unrighteous, all the while remaining on the right side of the ledger (Jas. 3:9-10).
I read recently, the story of Robert Redford walking through a hotel lobby, when an admirer spotted him. She followed him to the elevator and asked, with great excitement, "Are you the real Robert Redford?" As the doors of the elevator closed, he replied, "Only when I am alone!" I also read about a rather pompous-looking deacon who was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. "Why do people call me a Christian?" the man asked. After a moment's pause, one youngster said, "Maybe it's because they don't know you." Oh how we ought to be consistent with our tongues, and with our lives. Consider the possibilities of the tongue in the areas of constructiveness, control, and consistency.
This being true, I think we can see the importance of using our tongues wisely. When we do, behold the possibilities.
The Tongue Should be Constructive
Here is how James 3 begins: "My brethren, be not many masters [teachers], knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation" (3:1). In an overall context that dwells on the proper use of the tongue are words to public teachers.
Not every Christian should teach in a leadership capacity (i.e. Bible Class teachers, preachers, etc.) (1 Cor. 12:28; 12:17). Only those who spend time with the Word, and then applying the Word should be allowed to teach--"Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee" (1 Tm. 4:16). Only the faithful are qualified to be teachers—"And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also" (2 Tm. 2:2).
Think about the constructive possibility of the tongue. It has the ability to bring a precious student to Christ for the salvation of the soul. It has the potential to encourage the young to pursue a life of spiritual excellence-- faithfulness. It has the capability of instructing the young adults how to be successful in child rearing. It can tell the aged saint about the responsibility of teaching the younger. It offers encouragement to the discouraged; help to the helpless; hope to those in pain; life to the one experiencing death. Oh the constructive possibility of the tongue!
The Tongue Should be Controlled
Without question, the tongue is a difficult member of the body to control--yea, the most difficult. Benedict de Spinoza said, "Men govern nothing with more difficulty than their tongues...". James, the inspired writer said, "But the tongue can no man tame [it cannot continually be tamed]; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (Jas. 3:8).
When the tongue is not controlled, it is "a fire, a world of iniquity" (Jas. 3:6). "It defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of Hell [gehenna]" (Jas. 3:6). When it is not continually being tamed, the tongue is "an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (Jas. 38).
In "Growing Strong", Swindoll quoted Publius, a Greek sage who observed, "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence". Willian Norris, the American journalist who specialized in simple rhythms that packed a wallop once wrote: "If your lips would keep from slips, Five things observe with care: To whom you speak; of whom you speak; And how, and when, and where".
Oh if we could only learn to control our tongues. If we could see the potential for tragedy ahead of time, maybe we would be more careful. "Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!" (Jas. 3:5).
The Tongue Should be Consistent
Perhaps James was looking out his window at one of the fountains of Palestine when he wrote, "Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?...no fountain [can] both yield salt water and fresh" (Jas. 3:11,12). Maybe an olive tree caught his eye when he wrote, "Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs?" (Jas. 3:12).
James reminds today's reader that it is impossible to for one to say that which is righteous, and then say what is unrighteous, all the while remaining on the right side of the ledger (Jas. 3:9-10).
I read recently, the story of Robert Redford walking through a hotel lobby, when an admirer spotted him. She followed him to the elevator and asked, with great excitement, "Are you the real Robert Redford?" As the doors of the elevator closed, he replied, "Only when I am alone!" I also read about a rather pompous-looking deacon who was endeavoring to impress upon a class of boys the importance of living the Christian life. "Why do people call me a Christian?" the man asked. After a moment's pause, one youngster said, "Maybe it's because they don't know you." Oh how we ought to be consistent with our tongues, and with our lives. Consider the possibilities of the tongue in the areas of constructiveness, control, and consistency.
posted by Neil Richey @ 5:29 AM
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