Man’s Rejection of God

Chapter 14

Words

Word - speech as distinct from action.

“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.” (James 3:3-6)

The Epistle of James is said to be, in part, how one is to order his life in keeping with a professed faith in God. The writer, understanding the true nature of the tongue and the words it produces, issues two illustrations regarding how something small in size can control something much larger. In the case of the horse, the bit goes in the mouth as part of the bridle which goes over their entire head. It is used as a means of controlling the animal’s movements. In the case of a ship, the rudder is very small in comparison to the vessel itself, yet can easily control its movements. In each illustration it should be noted that the common denominator is that an individual is required to pull on the reins of the bridle or man the helm of the ship. In like manner, man has control of his tongue, or does he? He’s supposed to and that is the point of the writer’s comments.

There is no doubt that we can do much good with the words we say; however, we can also tear down a person’s spirit with one negative statement. Words can bring healing and hope or depression and despair. Words can be a salve or a sword. Words.

“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 3:9-12)

Our own ignorance causes us to say stupid things. With all the best intentions, we end up wounding someone’s feelings or perhaps even crushing their spirit. Once these words are spoken they are “out there”. They cannot be reeled back in as if they were attached to a fishing line. They can’t be deleted as if they were typed out on a Word document on one’s computer. They are hanging out there. Words, improperly used, can cause a lot of damage.

One of the things that is very dangerous about texting, online chatting, emailing, face booking and twittering is that our tone of voice is not always apparent. We can convey the wrong message without intending to if we are not careful. I once knew someone who texted everything in caps. Some recipients thought she was yelling all the time because all caps in written form is supposed to denote excitement or upset. She insisted that I was wrong, which made her clueless.