James 3:4-5-Be Mindful of Your Tongue

May 17, 2024

James 3:4-5-Be Mindful of Your Tongue

These passages of Scripture out of the New Testament were written by James the half-brother of Jesus Christ. He is pointing out the dangers of the words that come out of a person’s mouth. One thing that we do not realize is that there are repercussions for every idle (unprofitable and wicked) word that we speak, Matthew 12:36.

James is giving us practical tools on how to learn how to tame our tongues. It is one of the smallest members of our body but can cause the most destruction. The Lord is very clear how powerful the tongue is as He reveals it to us in Proverbs 18:21. It states, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

God is exposing a spiritual law to us in Proverbs 18:21 when He states that death and life is in what you say. It is meant to be taken literally. The fact of the matter is that you can create curses or blessings over your life based off of the words spoken out of your mouth. That is why it is so important to guard your tongue from speaking hurtful and damaging words.

Speaking positively will bring positive outcomes and speaking negatively will bring you negatives ones. The words of a wise man will be carefully thought out and will promote healthy conversations but the words of a foolish person will bring forth harmful conversations. James points out this fact throughout most of the third chapter of his epistle. It is dedicated to exposing how untamable one’s tongue is and how destructive the words that you choose to use can be.

Another example of what the Lord has to say about taming your tongue is found in Proverbs 10:31 as it discloses, “The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but the perverse tongue will be cut out.” When you spend time in the Word of God allowing it to wash and renew your mind, the way that you speak will reflect that. On the contrary if you spend your time listening to perverse and worldly things that is exactly what will protrude out of your mouth.

There are two other passages of Scripture that disclose how important it is to be mindful of what you allow into your heart and mind. Proverbs 23:7 states, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he…” and Matthew 12:13 discloses, “…For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” The Lord is making it very plain for us: what we have embedded in our hearts will eventually be spoken.

Now let’s take a closer look at the passages that I am highlighting found in the book of James.

James 3:4-5

“Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.”

The word “driven” being used is the Greek word “elaunō” which means: to drive, of the wind driving ships or clouds. The words “a very small” being used is the Greek word “elachistos” which means: smallest, least in size. The word “rudder” being used is the Greek word “pēdalion” which means: ship’s rudder.

Then the Lord discloses the comparison when He states “even so” then He mentions “the tongue” which is the Greek word “glōssa” which means: a member of the body, the organ of speech. The words “boasts great things” is the Greek word “aucheō” which means: where it seems to denote any kind of haughty language which wounds and provokes others, and stirs up strife.

There is so much that we can obtain from these powerful passages of Scripture. What we can see that James is doing with the leading of the Holy Spirit is making a comparison, revealing to us the similarities between a rudder on a ship and a tongue on a human being. The rudder is small in fact the smallest and least in size but it can move a ship in any direction.

Likewise the tongue is little but it is such a powerful thing that it can literally change the entire course of life simply by words that are spoken. James explains that this small member attached to your body can boast haughty language that wounds, provokes, and stirs up strife. So little yet extremely potent!

That is why it is so imperative that we get into the Word of God for ourselves and understand the Lord’s spiritual laws and regulations. One that goes hand in hand with taming your tongue is the spiritual law of reaping what you sow; there is no way of getting around that one, Galatians 6:7-8. If you sow negative words and actions that is what you will produce; if you sow positivity and love that is what you will produce.

You can definitely see the law of sowing and reaping in the lives of the people around you. For instance a person that is always gossiping, never satisfied, and always has something negative to say all the time: that person more than likely is not a very happy person and struggles in many areas of their life.

In contrast, someone that speaks positively all the time, stays in the Word of God, and always sees the brighter side of things: this kind of person more than likely lives with the joy of the Lord regardless of what is going on around them. They will face adversity but it will not entirely consume them!

We really need to get to a place in our Christian walk where we let our mouth be a mouth that praises the Lord, prays for our family, and speaks the promises of God over your life and your loved ones. Be the one that will intercede for everyone when nobody else is. Be the example that others can look at and say, “There is just something different about you!”

Also, don’t forget to check out my other blogs:

James 2:2-3-Be Mindful of Showing Special Attention

James 2:1-Show No Partiality

James 1:20-Anger Does not Produce Righteousness

James 1:19-Be Slow to Anger

James 1:22-Be a Doer of the Word of God

James 1:6-Have Faith with No Doubt

James 1:5-Ask the Lord for Wisdom

James 1:2-3-the Testing of Your Faith

Who is Jesus’ brother James?

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Fight Back

Breaking Spiritual Strongholds-Feed Your Spirit