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. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. James 3:5-6
My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. James 1:19-20
The tongue…. oh boy, the tongue, it is about the only beast on earth humankind has not been able to tame!!! So how are we supposed to control this wild untamed muscle. Oh, friend how we try, how I have tried. God calls us to train our tongue and have it be still. I have heard it said, “we have two ears and one mouth for a reason… to listen twice as much as we talk.” I have also heard it said, “what comes out of the mouth is an indication of what is in the heart.” OUCH…. That one stings a bit. I have the best of intentions, and I am sure you, my friend, do as well. We create habits or tools to tame the tongue. We create swear jars, and we are cognizant of words we here in music, shows we watch and what we scan on social media. But there are times when we are weak, and the beast (the tongue) is strong.
The tongue is such a powerful thing, even though it is so small. James 3:5-6 gives examples of just how dangerous this little muscle can be, it can make great boasts and cause fires (destroying others) and it can bring on a world of evil on ourselves.… but the opposite is true too and we will get to that. But there is a connection here of evil/anger and the tongue that James is warning us about.
I know for me, and you may be able to relate, the easiest way for anger to spill out of me is through my words and attitude. However, it is up to me, and only me, to check my heart and to control this lovely strong-willed tongue and when I don’t, to seek forgiveness!!!
James bluntly but lovingly tells it how it is, which is one reason I love this letter! In James 1:20 he reminds us that our anger does not produce righteousness. I don’t know about you, but I desire, my heart’s desire is to live a righteous life. One that is joyful, one where my heart is full of love, not anger. A life that lifts up the Lord and one that when words come out of my mouth that they will bring glory to Him!!!
How do we accomplish this? The struggle is real, my friend, oh how the struggle is real, so ff it feels impossible, you aren’t the only one that feels that way- because I sure do to. But I am so thankful that God through James gives us guidance on this matter. He gives us practical (although not very easy) steps to take to work toward righteousness in hearts and glorification of our Lord. For anger does not produce righteousness, so what does?
Here is the answer and these are the three steps James gives us: “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” (vs 19). Broken down it looks like this: 1. Be quick to listen, 2. Slow to speak and 3. Slow to become angry. Honesty, I find it fascinating the instructions he gives here. The first instruction is to be done quickly and the second and third are to be done slowly. How coincidental James, how coincidental? It was not an accident that we are to listen first and then be slow to speak and slow to become angry- there is a connection between these.
If a, then b, if b and then c. If I am quick to listen (meaning to actively listen- truly try and understand what the other person is telling me) then b, being slow to speak naturally happens and then c- getting angry is minimized. Ease Peasy Lemon Squeezy right? In theory, if I practiced this, I’d be making a lot of lemonade. Just like a lot of good advice, easier said than done. But just like a lot of difficult things that we take pride in or find valuable, practice makes perfect. We are walking a life towards righteousness and sanctification, but we all fall short. Jesus though is quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry with us when we do mess up. He is patient, He forgives, He encourages, and He loves.
How different would our world look nay; how different our heart would/will look and how different our mouth will sound if we were truly to follow these three instructions. Close your eyes and just imagine for a second what your heart currently looks like. To be honest, I’m not proud of the image I see in my mind’s eye, the dark crevices of unforgiveness, the black and blue hurting corners of trauma, the candle of hope burn has been threatened a time or two (we’ll stop counting there). How different would this heart look…. How different?
It might look like a life where my ears are quick to listen to my friends hurting heart, my child’s disappointment and my loved one’s sorrow. A life where my heart is quick to empathy and understanding and therefore slow to speak, and when I do, the words that are used heal the broken hearted, they are words that encourage the disappointed and words that bring joy to the sorrowful.
Lord, thank you so much for speaking to us in such beautiful and loving ways. You are the ultimate example of how powerful words and actions can be. Thank you for showing us and giving us guidance on how to be able to love and speak words of truth and loving affirmation providing hope and life for others, just as you did for us. Please Lord, forgive me for the words that have come out of my mouth that have hurt others rather than lifted them up. I ask you to help me and these friends to use our words for Your glory, to encourage, to bring positivity and show your love, I/we surrender this to you!!! Amen
Leave a Reply