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 body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being 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 human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
James is going to quite a bit of detail here to ensure that we understand how big an issue our speech is. We’ve read so many news reports of fights, many ending in murder, where it is reported that the incident began with “an exchange of words”. Some of us have been emotionally wounded for life by the careless or disparaging words of a parent, relative or teacher. What’s in our heart is revealed in our words. Luke 6:45 – “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
In this passage, James makes three points relating to our speech. First, careless words can have an outsized effect upon our lives. “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.” Have you ever lost a job because you spoke out before thinking it over? Have you ever lost a friendship that way? How many marriages have been seriously damaged or even ended by hurtful or disparaging words spoken within the home. Perhaps the reason the effects of careless or hurtful words is so significant is because we do instinctively understand the principle of Luke 6:45, that our speech reveals our inner beliefs.
Second, “no human being can tame the tongue.” We try. Oh, how much we try! Our innermost feelings and hard-core beliefs will, however, eventually leak out in our unguarded words. The only way to truly tame our tongue is to change our hearts, so that what leaks out in unguarded speech will be peace and purity, God’s truth reflected from our hearts through our speech. There is a wonderful prayer song written by Eddie Espinosa which begins with the lines “Change my heart oh God / Make it ever true”. I don’t know where he got his inspiration, but it may have come from Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
Finally, James discusses what nonsense it is to use the same tongue to speak reviling words of hate at one time, and gentle words of grace and praise later. It just doesn’t make sense, but that’s what we do. If we approach a spring of water, it will be either fresh or salty. It won’t change its character over time. When we return to the same freshwater spring the next day, the water is still fresh. If we initially found it salty, it will always be salty. The only way we can be so inconsistent is to by lying when we’re speaking kindly! As James writes, “this should not be.”
James is also setting us up for what’s coming next, his discussion of true wisdom.
My lesson from this scripture is that my speech reveals what’s in my heart. If I don’t like what’s being revealed, my heart is the place to start. My application is to make the words of Psalm 51:10 – “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” – my daily prayer.
Rod's Quiet Time 