James 3:3-6

NIV: 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 person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

The Message: A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

Woah! The tongue corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell. These are strong words indeed. But so true. One word can devastate a friendship, a marriage and it can take years to build up again. The seeds of doubt and mistrust can so easily be sown by the casual word, a throwaway comment that was never intended to be taken in that way, and the other person can be so hurt by the things you have said.

Like a small rudder controlling which way a ship goes, or a small bit in the bridle controlling the way a horse goes, so the tongue controls our lives. It is so small, relatively speaking, in comparison to, say, a leg, or an arm, and yet it can do so much damage. *Yes, it can also build up and edify, but just take a look around you, see the language that is being used.

My children and I went to a theme park yesterday, and me, being the kind-hearted and considerate person I am ;), waited whilst they went on one of those extreme roller coasters and looked after the backpack (of course it was nothing to do with my feeling sick and terrified on those rides, no way!). Anyhow, when they got off the ride, they came back and were absolutely disgusted with some lads (about 16 years old) who had been sitting in front of them in the ride, and who spent the entire ride complaining in loud voices about the "f***ing ride" and how they wished they had been stoked up on meth and drink as it would have been much better. My eldest was not only disgusted by their behaviour and language, but was also appalled at the fact that they were talking in this way in front of some seven year olds who were sitting nearby. And my youngest, who is just 13 himself, felt this was a reflection on all teenagers and was very upset.

The things we say can reflect not only on us but on our beliefs, our faith, the things we really think are important. But words can build up and edify as well as pull down and criticise. How can we use our tongues to both praise God and curse him in almost the same breathe? It is commonplace nowadays for the name of Jesus to be used as a swear word. And just what was the third commandment again? You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain…….

The tongue can do so much damage, can cause irreparable harm, almost without us thinking about it. No wonder James says it is set on fire by hell itself. Can’t you just imagine the devil jumping around in glee every time someone blasphemes by swearing with the name of Christ? Or when a word said in the heat of an argument destroys a person or a relationship?

We need to guard our tongues, to watch the things we say. As Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-19:

But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean'. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. (NIV)

And then look at Matthew 12:36-37:

But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. (NIV)

The things that we say come from our hearts, and are a reflection of who we really are, the things we truly believe in, and the way we choose to live our lives. We will have to give an account of every word spoken on the day of judgement, so shouldn't we be watching the things we say? Keeping a check on our tongues and holding back those hurtful, spiteful words? Retaliating with a kind word, not an angry word?

By our words we will be acquitted and by our words we will be condemned…….