#WordPower #Tongue #TheTongue WORD POWER +++++++++++++ This week, Nov. 9 to 15, 2014, the subject of our study is chapter 3 of the Book of James in which we notice, first of all, that the author has moved from talking about good behavior, in general, to addressing the matter of speech, in particular. In James 3:2, the author zeroes in on the issue of what comes out from one’s lips, or on what he says. The verse reads, “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” ■ The Tongue— In a place in England, in a churchyard where church members are usually buried, there stands a drab, gray slate tombstone on which these words are written: “Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, lies Arabella Young Who, on the twenty-fourth of May began to hold her tongue.” What this means is that while that woman was alive, she never was able to control her tongue until the day she died. Probably the lines were composed by someone who was a victim of her tongue lashing. While physiologically we know that the tongue is a muscular structure that forms part of the floor of a human being’s oral cavity, we also recognize it as a symbol of the words we speak, usually negatively, and hence warnings abound about what a tongue is capable of doing and its effects. Our study guide says, “Words are so potentially powerful that, with just a few sentences, you can devastate a person, perhaps for the rest of his or her life. On the other hand, positive words can uplift someone, perhaps for just as long.” Then, to show how powerful that organ of the body is, symbolically speaking, the same study guide asks the following questions: “If you had dynamite in your hands, how careful would you be with it? What should your answer tell you about how you should deal with something even more powerful than dynamite?” ■ Who should bridle the tongue and why— In verse 1 of James 3 (you should read Dr. Manny Sansano’s commentary on that verse, for study on Sunday), men are cautioned against becoming teachers because of the influence they cast over their students. This caveat applies also to parents who are teachers to their children. In verse 2, we find the second reason for viewing the teachers’ role most seriously, and, that is, no teacher is faultless. Even inspired teachers could set the wrong example or fail to live up to what they were teaching (Gal. 2:11-13). Further, non-inspired teachers are clearly not infallible. The point James is making in verse 2 is that individuals must learn to bridle their tongue, because they are social beings who are in contact with, and do influence, others around them who hear their words, just like teachers in relation to their students. Mistakes in the choice of words uttered could cause harm not only to the speaker, but more so to the listeners also who might be led to suffer the same or even greater harm and havoc. On Judgment Day, what a terrible sin it is to account for, because we were not careful about the words we have spoken! ■ Taming the tongue— James knows that our tongue is the most unruly and rebellious member of our body. It is also powerful as shown in James’ three (3) illustrations of how something “small can have huge consequences” in the metaphors of 1) the bridle and the horse, 2) the rudder and the ship, and 3) the spark of fire and the forest. You will gain more insight with respect to this matter from Dr. Nem Tambalque, in his commentary on the other topic of this lesson, “Little Things Are The Big Things.” Hence, while James had in mind in verse 2, chapter 3, the challenge to all that they stay away from being teachers, or to avoid teaching error, he also gives reason why people who have been saved by Jesus through their faith in Him need to have mastery over their tongue, remembering the wise man’s saying that “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver (Proverbs 25:11). James says that a person who is able to control his tongue, that is, one who “does not stumble in what he says,” is also able to control his entire life or body as well. Once again, here is what James 3:2 says: “If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.” Our goal as Christians is to be perfect persons also in the domain of words uttered. “Perfect” in this passage, as we have learned in this forum, does not denote “sinless perfection,” but “maturity” in the spiritual sense. In a previous discussion, we maintained that no one has ever achieved sinless perfection, but Jesus, and no one else can ever achieve it in this life. However, by Gods grace, everyone is able to grow to “spiritual maturity.” Let us take note that one important indicator of spiritual maturity is his ability to tame his tongue, or to choose what comes out of his lips. God can change one’s heart through the new birth and that change will flow to, or become evident in, the words that come out of a saved person’s lips. ----------------------------- ***This item is an amplification of Mondays topic of the Sabbath School lesson this week ending Nov. 15, 2014. You will find the same item in Dr. Diego Diaz-Sausas Global Biblical Studies Forum later in the week.
Posted on: Mon, 10 Nov 2014 21:45:43 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015