LEARNING DAILY

James 3:8-10, But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Today is a follow-up to yesterday’s page of the blog. Zechariah told the people God wanted them to be honest with their communication with others. Tell the truth and do not scheme against others. James wrote that mankind has been able to tame wild animal but is unable to tame their own tongue; in other words, we have difficulty controlling the words we say. Our tongues are more powerful than we are; they control us like a bit in a horse’s mouth controls it. Sadly, most of us know by experience exactly what problems and hurt our words can cause others.

James does not write that Believers are to give up on trying to control their speech. He wrote in verse 26, “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.” If one does not control the words that come out of their mouth, their religion is worthless. Remember Zechariah told the people God hates dishonesty, telling lies, and dishonest judgment. I know the word “religion” tends to be associated with keeping rituals or rules hoping to earn God’s favor. But those saved by Jesus Christ have already found favor in their salvation. Now they seek His strength and power to live the way He wants. That means speaking in a way that honors Him.

James wrote that no one can tame the tongue through their own willpower. However, Believers are called to walk the narrow way in obedience to God and only say what is good and helpful, to exercise self-control, to get rid of unkind speech, and to speak what is good. Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” Colossians 3:8, “But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.” Jesus said that on the day of judgment Believers will have to give an account for every idle word they speak, Matthew 12:36-37, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." That judgment will not determine destination or one’s salvation; it will determine eternal rewards. This relates the Believer’s daily life to the principle that what we speak reveals what is in our heart.

Left to deal with this problem on our own will not bring victory. None of us can tame this tongue of ours. Only through the power of Christ in us, by yielding to and relying on the power of the Holy Spirit are we able to overcome sin and the terrible evil that our tongues can produce. Each Believer must offer themselves as a living and holy sacrifice to God, giving Him control over our tongue. Romans 12:1, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” What you and I are not capable of doing, God can do in us!