“The tongue is in the middle of everything whether good or bad.” (Robert R. Taylor)
James chapter 3 is entirely devoted to the power of the tongue. The ability we have to communicate in words can be a tremendous blessing or a horrific curse to the hearers (Pro. 18:21). The assigned context highlights how unnatural it is for professed believers in God to have a language that does not mesh with what they claim to believe. Seven times Jesus identifies the religious leaders as hypocrites in Matthew 23. Should I or we be concerned today with the same label or have we convinced ourselves that our speech can be inconsistent with our claims and not affect our relationship with God (cf. Jas. 1:22)?
In verse nine James identifies the noblest use of the tongue – “blessing God.” Every Sunday we have the tremendous opportunity to worship God (John 4:24). Three of the five actions of worship (singing, praying and preaching) involve the tongue. Without doubt we should all desire to follow the Psalmist, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall be continually be in my mouth”. It is the height of inconsistency to move from praising God to cursing someone made in His image (Gen. 1:26). Many things may be blamed or used to justify the inconsistency, but the reality is, the violators’ heart is not right. Various avenues are taken when cursing our fellow humans. Consider this brief list: slander (1 Pet. 2:1), gossip (NASB) (2 Cor. 12:20), lying (Eph. 4:25), and deception (Rom. 3:13). Sadly, more could be listed. How sobering is Jesus’ statement in Matthew 12:34, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” If the improper words spoken were not stored in the heart (mind), they would never have been spoken (Ps. 141: 3-4a). Before leaving this point, please dwell upon the following, “If someone says, I love God, and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen” (1 John 4:20)?
In verse 10 James continues addressing what ought not to be – “blessing and cursing”. On this verse brother J.J. Turner noted, a clearer translation is “These things are not right, my brothers, and should not be.” How great a tragedy occurs when the same mouth is used to salute and slander, praise and punishes, and glorifies and gouge. How seriously should we consider Proverbs 4:23? “Keep your heart with all diligence’ For out of it spring the issues of life.” It should be the goal of every Christian to do the right thing always (Tit. 2:11-14). Habitual, persistent sin is to be avoided.
At this point let’s refresh and refocus ourselves from James 3. “For we all stumble in many things” (Jas. 3:2). “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison” (Jas. 3:8). Consistency is one of the great challenges of the tongue and in this area we can relate to the apostle Peter (Matt. 26:31-46) for our “spirit is indeed willing but our flesh is weak.” When we fail to control our tongue, we are doing that which is not right. Our faith is tested by the consistency of our speech. May our speech “always be with grace, seasoned with salt…” (Col. 4:6).
Verses 11 and 12 highlight the consistency of nature – “from the same.” James provides three examples from nature to further his point. First, he gives the illustration from water. Does a spring give both fresh and bitter water from the same opening? Answer, NO. James’ point is simple – the product is always consistent with its source. The application is obvious, what I say and the how I say it reveals the true source! If people really want to know what someone is like all that is needed is to spend time with them, their speech will eventually reveal their true identity (cf. 1 Cor. 2:11). Second, we are to consider two examples from agriculture. What do we naturally expect a fig tree to produce; or how about a grapevine? The answer is obvious. God set forth an undeniable fact in Genesis 1 that everything would produce after “its kind” (cf. Gen. 1:11) and for it to happen otherwise, “is not right.” James, cements his point by once again referring to water, can fresh and salt water come from the same spring? The answer is still a resounding NO!
In conclusion, I pray that we may all apply these truths to our lives. May we put into practice what James commands by hearing, doing, looking and living the truth of God’s word (cf. Jas. 1:22-26). I heard someone say, “Whatever comes up in the bucket is down in the well.” May God help us to truly consider the words we speak and the tone in which they are spoken. Shakespeare is credited with the following statement, “Consistency thou art a jewel” and with it we can all agree, especially as it applies to our speech.