Power to Direct : The Bit and the Rudder (James 3:1-4) “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 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.” (James 3:1-4) Apparently, several people in the assembly wanted to teach and lead, for James has to warn them: “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers” (James 3:1).This is because those who teach the Word face the stricter judgement. Teachers must use their tongue to share God’s truth, and it is terrible when those appointed to teach God’s Word, sin with their tongue. Furthermore, teachers must practice what they teach; otherwise, their teaching is hypocrisy. But teachers are not the only ones who are tempted and sin; every Christian must admit that “we all stumble in many ways” (James 3:2). And sins of the tongue seem to head the list. Control of the tongue is a sign of spiritual maturity. Is James making a mistake connecting sins of the tongue with sins of “the whole body”? No, because words usually lead to deeds. During World War II there were posters that read ‘Loose lips sink ships’. But loose lips also wreck lives. Make an unguarded statement and you may find yourself involved in a conflict. Our tongue may force the rest of our body to defend itself. In selecting the bit and the rudder James presented two items that are small of themselves, yet exercise great power, just like the tongue. A small bit enables the rider to control a horse, and a small rudder enables the pilot to steer an entire ship. The tongue is a small member in the body, and yet it has the power to accomplish great things. Both the bit and the rudder must overcome contrary forces. The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse, and the rudder must fight the winds and currents that would drive the ship off its course. The human tongue also must overcome contrary forces. This means that both the bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand. When Jesus Christ controls the tongue, then we need not fear saying the wrong things—or even saying the right things in a wrong way! “Death and life are in the power of the tongue,” warned Solomon (Prov. 18:21). No wonder David prayed, “Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing” (Ps. 141:3-4). The bit and rudder have the power to direct, which means they affect the lives of others. A runaway horse or a shipwreck can mean injury or death to pedestrians or passengers. The words we speak affect the lives of others. A judge says “Guilty!” or “Not Guilty!” and those words affect the destiny of the prisoner, his family, and his friends. Never underestimate the guidance you give by the words you speak or do not speak. The power to direct: The bit and the rudder.
Posted on: Sun, 11 Aug 2013 00:39:40 +0000
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