Taming the Beast of Communication
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I. Leaders and Teachers have greater responsibility
I. Leaders and Teachers have greater responsibility
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
A. The number of teachers/leaders
A. The number of teachers/leaders
The number is not as significant as the responsibility. The point here is that not many can handle the responsibility of teaching and leading because of the faithfulness it requires.
1 Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; For the faithful fail from among the children of men.
Godly and faithful leaders are difficult to come by. So if you lead, understand that you are called to be both Godly and faithful in that endeavor.
6 Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: But a faithful man who can find?
There are so many who will say they can do this or that, but how many are there who will actually do those great things for God?
We are all called to be faithful, but those who are leaders are also called to steward what God has given. Whether in the classroom or in the boardroom.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.
B. Strictness in judgement
B. Strictness in judgement
Unfaithfulness in the task at hand reaps for the doer a great punishment. But for the communicators and leaders, these who know better in so many ways, they will be judged even greater for what they have or have not done well.
James 3:2
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
Greater strictness has most likely to do with the law of sowing and reaping. What we sow or plant that will we reap or harvest.
7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
What we invest in the areas God calls us to lead and teach, we will also get out the same amount back. In most areas of our giving God returns even more:
38 give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
II. Taming our communication
II. Taming our communication
A. Control of speech
A. Control of speech
James 3:2
2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
Everyone has sin problems. James is dealing here with just the ability to leverage control over what we say. If we can say the right things at the right times and avoid the wrong things then there is not an area of our lives in which we cannot see victory. The truth of this is found in the next verse. Look at the control we can have over a 1000 pound animal, just by controlling the animal’s mouth.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
Think also of what controls the direction of a ship:
4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.
2.5%-5% of the total underwater cubic feet of the boat or ship.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth.
B. Taming the tongue
B. Taming the tongue
Examples:
Taking the trash out.
Being home on time.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth.
Getting school work completed both on time and in the correct manner.
Taming the tongue
Taming the tongue
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth.
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue amongst our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
How we speak and use our tongue says an enormous amount about who we are. Just like most every area of our lives, the little things matter most. The things that seem insignificant are typically the things that demonstrate character problems.
Names some small areas of our lives that show character problems if not done with diligence.
Taking the trash out.
Being home on time.
Getting school work completed both on time and in the correct manner.
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue amongst our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
What we say with our tongue is an indication of the internal fire that is consuming us. So what is internally consuming you?
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
C. The Bad
C. The Bad
7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:
8 but the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
The tongue is not like the animals of the earth. It cannot be tamed, it is unruly and does not want to obey. The tongue does not fear punishment or retribution. The words we say can be like an evil that does not rest and poisons those we impact through it.
D. The Good
D. The Good
James 3:9-
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
On the opposite side of the bad the tongue can do, it can be equally as good.
Verse 9 calls us to remember who we are and who God is. We are made in God’s image and are made for His glory. Being made to glorify Him, it is a shame that we should glorify God with our speech, but destroy men with it also. Instead we need to be a blessing with our words and not a curse. In verse 10 James reminds us that wickedness with our words ought not to be so.
III. What we are is what we communicate
III. What we are is what we communicate
11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.
Verse 11 causes us to consider the truth that only one kind of water comes out of a spring. It cannot be poison and good at the same time. We as God’s children cannot be people filled with poison in our words and grace in our works. Ultimately what is already in us, is what comes out of us. If we feed ourselves rotten tv shows, youtube videos and music, then eventually those things will be who we are.
In verse 12 it deals with the truth that certain trees produce certain fruit, so what tree are you? Do you know Christ as savior? Young person, if you know Christ, then you ought to be ingesting Christ-honoring things, which will produce Christ-honoring speech.
Next time we will discuss developing wholesome communication that hinges on wisdom ingested and contemplated.
Next time we will discuss developing wholesome communication that hinges on wisdom ingested and contemplated.