A SLIP OF THE TONGUE
Have you ever heard a politician or other public figure, caught in a lie, respond by saying, “I misspoke?” Or have you said something, almost without thinking, that you wish you hadn’t? In both cases, consequences have been created by a slip of the tongue. Our study of James now brings us to some important teaching for both the unity of the church and the wholesomeness of Christian relationships. Read James 3.1-9.
1. In verses 1-2, what is the warning to teachers?
2. Is he saying that a perfect person is one who never misspeaks? Does he think it is possible to teach without every making a mistake or is he saying something else?
3. Verses 3-5 begin with a description of great or large things that are controlled by something small. Clearly a tongue is a small organ of the body. What are the dangers of the tongue that he warns us against?
4. In verses 7-8 he is saying that the human tongue cannot be tamed by human beings. Why?
5. If our tongues are a restless evil, not tamable–what is his point in verses 9-11?
6. It is not said directly here, but how can the tongue be tamed?
BIBLICAL JOY 
It seems like taming the tongue would come from using greater self-control, or God-control. Thinking before we speak can help avoid a lot of painful situations or arguments. Sometimes we may even want to say, “I need to think about that for a while” and take it to the Lord in prayer. Not in every little thing we talk about, but in sensitive or important situations, we may use our tongues to incite the positive rather than negative if we first look to God for what to say.
Lisa Kilgore - February 1, 2011 at 11:43 am |
#2. Humans cannot achieve this “perfection” of taming the tongue. It says so in verse 8.
It’s only through God’s grace that we can be forgiven for hurtful words, shouts in anger or profanity. It seems so simple to just “tame the tongue” but it is so hard. I believe we can ask for God’s guidance in all situations, if we have a habit of not taming the tongue, to promote positive outcomes and conversations.
If we have a habit of speaking negatively and harshly, we need God’s guidance even in the small conversations. The tongue is really showing others what is in our heart.
Gail - February 3, 2011 at 10:56 am |
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