The well-timed encouragement or compliment can inspire someone for the rest of their life. The casual sarcastic or critical remark can inflict a lasting injury on another person. What others say to us and what we say to others can last a long time, for good or for evil. The bitter pain of a word spoken against us can hurt us for a lifetime, long after a broken bone has healed. But that child's rhyme isn't really true. Children are told sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: The fire of the tongue has been used to burn many. In the same way, even a vow of silence is not the ultimate answer for the misuse of our tongue.ī. You don't solve the problem of an unruly horse by keeping it in the barn, or the problem of a hard-to-steer ship by keeping it tied to the dock. Something as small as the tongue can have tremendous power, for either good or evil. If they are not controlled, the entire horse is out of control, and the entire ship is out of control. The bit and the rudder are small, but extremely important. Whoever can control the tongue can bridle the whole body ( James 3:2). Even so, if we have control over our tongue, it is an indication that we have control over our self. A large ship can be turned by a small rudder. We put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us: A strong horse can be controlled by a small bit in its mouth. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature and it is set on fire by hell.Ī. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. This is especially relevant to teachers, who have so much more opportunity to sin with their tongue. To not stumble in word shows true spiritual maturity. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man: By this, James provides a measure of spiritual maturity for teachers and for all Christians. We know that we all stumble, but we should all press on to a better walk with the Lord, marked by less stumbling.ĭ. But he does not excuse his or our stumbling. We all stumble: James included himself among those who stumble. The ancient Greek word translated stumble does not imply a fatal fall, but something that trips us up and hinders our progress with the Lord. After all, we all stumble in many things. For we all stumble in many things: The greater accountability of teachers is especially sobering in light of our common weaknesses.
"The comparative adjective greater implies degrees of treatment at the judgment seat." (Hiebert)Ĭ. Jesus warned to whom much is given, from him much will be required and to whom much have been committed, of him they will ask the more. It is easy to take the position of teacher lightly in the church, without considering its cost in terms of accountability. They must take the responsibility seriously, because their accountability is greater, and they shall receive a stricter judgment. Let not many of you become teachers: James has a sober admonition for those who would become teachers in the church. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.Ī. My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ( Jas 3:1-2) Opening observations: the greater accountability of teachers and the difficulty of not stumbling. The demonstration of a living faith in controlling what we say.ġ.