Taming the Terrible Tongue Part 1 of 4

Lately when I’ve been reading the Bible, some things have been jumping out at me about the way I am so quick to talk sometimes. This will be a short little series about taming the tongue walking through James 3:1-12 one step at a time, and then looking at parts of Ephesians 4 and 5. The first passage is James 3:1-2 which says, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment; for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.”

This letter was written by the Apostle James to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion to encourage them and instruct them. I find it interesting that James starts instructing everyone about controlling their tongue by telling them that only few should become teachers and that they will receive a stricter judgment than everyone else, even though we all stumble in many ways. This is so crucial because when someone has the ability to teach, whatever they say, people will end up believing. The temptation for teachers is to teach things that they have made up or something contrary to Scripture and create their own following, as well as to slander others or speak badly of them.

James then writes about stumbling by using our tongue. He writes that if someone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who can control his whole body. I feel that inherently, if someone stumbles by using their tongue, then the whole body is un-able to be controlled, and thus, causes the whole body to stumble (we will see this idea again in the next blog).

I find it funny that God has given us a tongue to use in teaching, yet it is something that can be so evil and affect the ability to control our whole body. Therefore we must control our tongue in order to control our whole body. In James’ day, just about anyone could decide to become a teacher, thus, James warns them that only a few should teach because of the measuring stick that they will be judged by. Since teaching is such a crucial role in the church, those who teach must tame their tongue so that their whole body will be controlled in order to pass judgment.

With that, I know that I will some day (probably sooner than I think) be in a position where I am teaching often and will be teaching God’s truth to youth. With this position will come much responsibility in using Scripture and modeling a sanctified life to students that I will be shaping. I know that right now I often stumble in what I say and things that I joke about. This begins my quest in Taming the Terrible Tongue, of which I hope you can maybe glean something from for your own life.

Lord, I pray that as I move closer to what You have for me that I would take more seriously the responsibility You have placed upon me. I pray that by Your Spirit I would be able to control my tongue so that I do not stumble and fall short. I pray that as this happens, I would continue to grow closer to You and what You have for me. I love You so much and thank You for Your sacrifice for me. I pray this in the name of Your Son Jesus Christ, Amen.