What is it?

 

James 3:2-12

One of my neighbors told me not that long ago that they enjoyed reading “From the Back Porch,” but that sometimes it seemed to be over their head.  Today’s subject will be on the spot; the object or subject of this paper will have affected everyone over the age of five.  Do you remember riddles that went like this, what is black and white, with lines on it?  Well, today we are talking about body parts, and it is one of the smallest, yet it has been used to do both good and bad, the Bible gives this description of it; “it cannot be tamed by man, it is restless, undisciplined, irreconcilable, evil, full of deadly poison, what is it?

James compares it to a bit that is put in a horse’s mouth so he will obey your orders, or the small rudder that controls a large ship.  I bet you already know the answer, verse five tells us; “So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.”  I was never accused of being a silver tongue devil, but in my profession many were, they always had the right words at the right time.  Who else beside salespeople come to mind when you think of verse three, maybe politicians, lawyers, or even preachers?  Do you recall how your mouth made boasts at a young age; my dad can whip your dad!

It would be wise for all of us to stop and listen to what the Bible says in verses 5b-10, “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness.  The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.  From the same mouth come blessing and cursing.  My brothers, these things ought not to be so.”

The other day one of my neighbors was at the mailbox area, and killed a large snake, and sent out an email with pictures to the other neighbors.  He got a response that he was not expecting, and the person who responded, came across with words that were not in keeping with being a good neighbor.  Once more, confirmation that the tongue will get us in trouble, but I must confess that when talking with my neighbor about it I called the person a jerk, and before I walked away the Spirit in me said, wrong, that person may have acted like a jerk, but that does not make him one.  Most of us have come across to others as a jerk by the careless words that have come from our mouth.  Often, but not of late, Jan has said, “Bob your words are harsh, they are unkind, and they hurt.  Who can rescue us from the control of the tongue? 

One of my mothers relatives had passed, and she along with her sisters were being greeted and given condolences by many old friends they had lived around in Graham, Texas.  One lady spoke to mother and said “Lily, do you remember me,” and mother’s response was, “yes, but I did not remember you being so large,” later mother was told that the lady had lost over 75 lbs.  My uncles had to leave the room, they were laughing so loud.  Mother later said she was so embarrassed, and the only thing she could remember about the lady was that she had stolen her boyfriend.  So do you think maybe mother passed on this curse?  It would be nice to have someone to blame for my tongue.

Most of us would be wise to take Proverbs 13:3 and 21:23 to heart.  James 1:26, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.”  That’s not my point of view, that is God’s Word, and many in the church have religion that is worthless, so says the only One with a vote.  1 Peter 3:10, gives good council on living life on planet earth; “For whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice