Warning! Use with Great Caution!
When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 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 person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. (James 3:3-12)
This last week I was doing a little cleaning in my garage and in the process ran across a manual for a power saw I had purchased recently. Being a normal guy I had not taken the time to read through the directions when I originally made the purchase. (Directions? Who needs directions?) Once I got the saw home I was determined to get my project done quickly so I just tossed the owner’s manual to the side and got straight to work. Upon discovering the booklet again I decided to take a few moments and read through it before I tossed it into the garbage can. As I was reading the directions for the use of the saw, I was struck by how it related to the use of another power tool God has given us – our tongue. Here are the instructions for the use of the power saw: 1. Know your power tool. 2. Keep guards in place. 3. Be careful around children. 4. Store safely when not in use. 5. Don’t over reach. 6. Never use in an explosive atmosphere. Wow! I don’t know who wrote the safety instructions for my circular saw, but their information could be a training manual on how to use our tongue properly. Throughout the manual there were repeated warnings about the potential injuries which would result if the tool was not used properly. Likewise, ignoring the safety guidelines associated with the use of our tongues can be equally devastating.
In the passage above James gives several guidelines and warnings associated with the dangers of the tongue:
1. Warning! Your Tongue Has The Power To Direct Where You Go in Life! “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.” Picture a huge stallion in your mind weighing between 2000-3000 pounds. On his back there’s a 95 pound jockey. But the jockey can control that tremendous horse by simply placing a little piece of metal strategically over the horse’s tongue. He says likewise your tongue controls the direction of your life. A little “bit” of a word or a phrase can control the total direction of your life. Notice he compares the tongue to a rudder - steering a ship wherever the pilot wants to go. The point? He’s saying your tongue is the steering wheel of your life. It’s your guidance system. If you don’t like the direction you are headed right now – change the way you talk to other people.
2. Warning! Your Tongue Has The Power To Destroy! 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. Have you ever met a verbal arsonist? Always speaking inflammatory words? Every time they speak, they heat things up. When they speak they cast suspicion on others - they light a fire of accusation. Or they spread the flame of gossip. James is saying that our words are like a fire that can burn people. Not only that, he says uncontrolled speech can start a chain reaction which goes on to do unimaginable damage. A few inflammatory statements tossed here and there in any relationship will eventually start a firestorm that gets extremely difficult to contain.
3. Warning! Your Tongue is a Dangerous Beast! All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James says the tongue is restless. Like a caged dangerous animal it is likely to break out at any moment. Would you allow a lion to freely roam around your house - even if someone told you it was tame? Or how about a cobra? Would you grant such a dangerous serpent unrestricted access to your home? Why not? Because sooner or later somebody is going to be victimized by its poison. And snake venom only takes a few drops to kill. James’ point is how much more devastating and dangerous is it for you to allow an untamed tongue to roam around and do damage to those whom you love? We all have seen the damage untamed, poisonous tongues can have in families. Don’t let your guard down for a moment!
4. Warning! Your Tongue Reveals Who You Really Are! With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Isn’t it amazing how quickly your attitude can change? One minute you can be singing sweetly to the Lord and the next moment you are shouting at your spouse. How can that happen? James says look at the source: Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? The answer is no – it cannot. A spring can only produce what is inside of it. Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? The answer is no – it cannot. Whatever is in the tree will come out in the fruit. My tongue betrays what is really on the inside of me. Don’t attempt to rationalize your negative speech patterns. If you are saying hurtful things it is because of something inside that has not yet been surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. Decide to surrender your thought life to Jesus and you will experience transformation in your tongue.
Regardless of the experience you might have working with power tools, going over the manufacture’s safety guidelines is a very intelligent thing to do from time to time. Doing so might just enable you to hang on to those precious fingers of yours. The same is true for the use of the tongue. Going over our Creator’s instructions manual for the use of your tongue might just enable you to hang on to those precious relationships in your life. Consult the Manufacturer’s Instruction Manual before Putting It into Use!
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
This last week I was doing a little cleaning in my garage and in the process ran across a manual for a power saw I had purchased recently. Being a normal guy I had not taken the time to read through the directions when I originally made the purchase. (Directions? Who needs directions?) Once I got the saw home I was determined to get my project done quickly so I just tossed the owner’s manual to the side and got straight to work. Upon discovering the booklet again I decided to take a few moments and read through it before I tossed it into the garbage can. As I was reading the directions for the use of the saw, I was struck by how it related to the use of another power tool God has given us – our tongue. Here are the instructions for the use of the power saw: 1. Know your power tool. 2. Keep guards in place. 3. Be careful around children. 4. Store safely when not in use. 5. Don’t over reach. 6. Never use in an explosive atmosphere. Wow! I don’t know who wrote the safety instructions for my circular saw, but their information could be a training manual on how to use our tongue properly. Throughout the manual there were repeated warnings about the potential injuries which would result if the tool was not used properly. Likewise, ignoring the safety guidelines associated with the use of our tongues can be equally devastating.
In the passage above James gives several guidelines and warnings associated with the dangers of the tongue:
1. Warning! Your Tongue Has The Power To Direct Where You Go in Life! “When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go.” Picture a huge stallion in your mind weighing between 2000-3000 pounds. On his back there’s a 95 pound jockey. But the jockey can control that tremendous horse by simply placing a little piece of metal strategically over the horse’s tongue. He says likewise your tongue controls the direction of your life. A little “bit” of a word or a phrase can control the total direction of your life. Notice he compares the tongue to a rudder - steering a ship wherever the pilot wants to go. The point? He’s saying your tongue is the steering wheel of your life. It’s your guidance system. If you don’t like the direction you are headed right now – change the way you talk to other people.
2. Warning! Your Tongue Has The Power To Destroy! 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. Have you ever met a verbal arsonist? Always speaking inflammatory words? Every time they speak, they heat things up. When they speak they cast suspicion on others - they light a fire of accusation. Or they spread the flame of gossip. James is saying that our words are like a fire that can burn people. Not only that, he says uncontrolled speech can start a chain reaction which goes on to do unimaginable damage. A few inflammatory statements tossed here and there in any relationship will eventually start a firestorm that gets extremely difficult to contain.
3. Warning! Your Tongue is a Dangerous Beast! All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. James says the tongue is restless. Like a caged dangerous animal it is likely to break out at any moment. Would you allow a lion to freely roam around your house - even if someone told you it was tame? Or how about a cobra? Would you grant such a dangerous serpent unrestricted access to your home? Why not? Because sooner or later somebody is going to be victimized by its poison. And snake venom only takes a few drops to kill. James’ point is how much more devastating and dangerous is it for you to allow an untamed tongue to roam around and do damage to those whom you love? We all have seen the damage untamed, poisonous tongues can have in families. Don’t let your guard down for a moment!
4. Warning! Your Tongue Reveals Who You Really Are! With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Isn’t it amazing how quickly your attitude can change? One minute you can be singing sweetly to the Lord and the next moment you are shouting at your spouse. How can that happen? James says look at the source: Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? The answer is no – it cannot. A spring can only produce what is inside of it. Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? The answer is no – it cannot. Whatever is in the tree will come out in the fruit. My tongue betrays what is really on the inside of me. Don’t attempt to rationalize your negative speech patterns. If you are saying hurtful things it is because of something inside that has not yet been surrendered to the Lordship of Christ. Decide to surrender your thought life to Jesus and you will experience transformation in your tongue.
Regardless of the experience you might have working with power tools, going over the manufacture’s safety guidelines is a very intelligent thing to do from time to time. Doing so might just enable you to hang on to those precious fingers of yours. The same is true for the use of the tongue. Going over our Creator’s instructions manual for the use of your tongue might just enable you to hang on to those precious relationships in your life. Consult the Manufacturer’s Instruction Manual before Putting It into Use!
Live the Victorious Life,
PT
posted by Larry | 4:02 PM
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