Pastor's Thoughts
Pastor’s Thoughts
With this article you may think that I’ve gone from preaching/teaching, to meddling! I am sharing a few thoughts about that part of our human anatomy that all too often causes us big trouble, which is…? Wouldn’t it be great if our salvation brought about the total makeover of our mouth? Speaking of the mouth, consider the words of the wise man Solomon who wrote this in Ecclesiastes 10:12 (from various translations): The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself (KJV); The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up (NKJV); Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him (NASV); Words from a wise man's mouth are gracious, but a fool is consumed by his own lips (NIV); It is pleasant to listen to wise words, but the speech of fools brings them to ruin (New Living Translation); the words of a wise person are gracious. The talk of a fool self-destructs (The Message). The person in this passage, better known as “Mr./Mrs./Ms. Know It All” or “Chief Running Mouth,” is always running at the mouth and ends up swallowing his/her own mouth. Someone has said that ‘the thing most opened up by mistake is our mouths.’ Ouch!
Whenever I think about the mouth and/or the tongue, my mind immediately goes to James' familiar and convicting words in the 3rd chapter of James where the Word of God provides insight into the use and misuse of the tongue among believers, specifically in worship. James writes: 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh (James 3:3-12).
In his assessment of the tongue, James begins by comparing the tongue to two different devices designed for control; the bit that controls a horse and the rudder that guides a ship. (1) The horse is a rather large strong animal, which years ago roamed wild. Yet, the bit, a small part of the bridle, brings the horse into subjection. In like fashion, the human tongue may also yield to a thoughtful kind touch of the reins. (2) The rudder of a ship is not necessarily large in comparison to the vessel, yet its decisive motion turns around an entire ship. The captain/pilot turns the helm and the vessel changes course. So the course of a life can be changed by a few words.
But, having said that, let me point out that James' comparison is not so much a matter of control (as the tongue doesn’t control the body), but rather the impact that these rather small parts play (cf. v.5). We must not underestimate the power of our tongues. A tongue not under control always gets us into big trouble! With these two illustrations, James seems to be illustrating the inordinate power of the tongue, either for good or evil, so that we use our one tongue carefully.
But James doesn’t stop there as he next provides two additional vivid illustrations for his comparisons: (3) a forest fire (3:5b-6). When we fail to use our tongues carefully, we become spiritual arsonists, lighting fires that potentially hurt, harm and destroy. As if that isn’t bad enough, consider James' strong words that follow; is set on fire by hell. Hell translates the Greek word, Gehenna, referring to the Valley of Hinnon, which is just outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem where pagan worshippers sacrificed their children. Historically, it became the place where trash was dumped and burned. Jesus used it many times to refer to a place of eternal torment. Is James comparing an evil tongue to something right from the pit of Hell? In his online notes, Dr. Tom Constable writes that “the tongue is the gate through which the evil influences can spread like fire to inflame all areas of life that we touch.” (4) James' final illustration is that of trained animals (3:7). But our tongues are impossible to tame by us. But God can! A young man known for his incessant talking once came to Socrates for speech lessons. “I will teach you,” said Socrates, “but I will have to charge you double my fee. First I have to teach you how to hold your tongue and then how to use it.”
As James now writes; one minute we’re speaking good positive words, the next, negative, harm-filled words (3:9-10). Right? James next reveals that the inconsistencies of our tongue problems lie with its source, which Jesus taught is the heart: For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart (Matthew 12:34). It’s true isn’t it, that the mouth is simply the ‘vent’ for what is in the heart? What if people could actually see what we were thinking? What if there was a direct open visual line between our thoughts and our mouths? Perhaps the place to start ‘taming the tongue’ lies in our hearts.
For our edification let me cite Paul's advice: Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29).
The ancient philosopher, Zeno once said, “We have two ears and one mouth; therefore we should listen twice as much as we talk.” Good advice!
But more importantly, I am drawn to the words of the Psalmist David who wrote, Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer (Psalm 19:14).
Pastor John
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