Year 9, Day 125: James 3

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James 3 is the infamous chapter on the tongue.  In this chapter of James exists a great deal of wisdom when it comes to what we say.  There are also some great metaphors to help us understand.

For example, James talks about the rudder of a ship.  A large sailing vessel carrying great amounts of cargo or people is steered by a tiny little piece of wood stuck in the water.  While many people who study this metaphor speak about the size, I also want to talk about the location.  The interesting thing about the rudder is that it is both small an hidden.  You can’t see the rudder.  You can’t notice it working except in the movement of the whole boat.  The same thing is true for the tongue.  You can’t see the tongue.  You don’t see its effect until the person speaks and acts.  In the action and the speaking of the whole person can we truly see the influence of the tongue for good and for bad.

The other example that James uses is the fire.  As we sing, “it only takes a spark to get a fire going.”  Smokey the Bear tells us that “only you can prevent forest fires.”  Great fires are always lit by small moments of flame.  The same is true with our words.  Grand movements are lit by small important speeches.  Fights are often made by tiny arrogant utterances.  Our tongues can either lead us into righteousness or drag us into sin.  It depends on how we use it.

People are always served best by monitoring themselves in humbleness.  The humble tongue will lead much more frequently into righteousness than will the arrogant tongue.  That doesn’t mean we can’t be bold or influential.  But as James says, we will be served well through our meekness in wisdom.  This is especially true when we consider the power of our tongue.

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