The Tongue Indicates The Spiritual State

James 3:1-12

We live in a world where most people are trying to attain a higher position. A person who doesn’t strive for wealth and power is often viewed as lacking ambition, and thus lazy and not worth hiring. In reality, some have a different set of values, putting other things as more important. Christians ought not fall into that competitive mindset. Leaders and employers have a greater responsibility before God than others. While their rewards will be greater for those who do well, the penalties for doing wrong are more severe. In addition, there is greater opportunity for error., and none are immune to error. James warns against seeking such positions competitively.

“My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:1-2)

It is especially easy for a leader to offend a follower, by appearing to favor one or neglect another. As a result, Colossians 4:1 cautions, “Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” Being totally fair is nearly impossible. In Luke 17:1-2, Jesus warned that offending others was a serious problem. “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come! It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” Romans 14:21 declares, “It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.” It is far easier to void doing such things when one is not a leader.

One of the most common causes of offense are carelessly spoken words. The attitude and interests show up in a persons speech. Matthew 15:18-20 states, “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man:”

Luke 6:45 states that what comes out of the mouth indicates what the state of the heart is. “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” Clean and inoffensive speech indicates a heart that is right. If the heart attitude is right, the rest of the behavior will easily be brought under control.

“Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (James 3:3-7)

James 1:26 stated, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.” Such a person clearly isn’t qualified as a Christian leader or pastor. Although man can control or train almost any animal, from fleas and amoeba to whales, and can devise control systems for huge ships and miniaturized surgical robots, he cannot control the tongue.

The tongue is controlled by the heart, and only by changing the heart can the tongue be brought under control. Galatians 5:16 promises, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Paul can promise this because of the heart attitude the Holy Spirit produces. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law,” (Galatians 5:22-23).

Without such a spiritual attitude, no man is qualified as a church leader. The qualifications for pastors and deacons in I Timothy 3 and Titus 1 enable us to identify spirit filled men by their attitude, and the resultant actions. Rather than striving for the job, we need to strive to qualify. The persons speech, the way they use their tongue, is another way of checking spiritual health.

“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” (James 3:9-12)

A spring might be fed by both a good source and a poluted one, but when they come out of the spring, they mix, and all is polluted. It is the same with a tongue which mixes wonderful religious speeches with wickedness, the person is defiled. It’s those wicked words tha indicate the real situation. Matthew 12:36-37 warns, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”