The World's Smallest Biggest Problem
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intro
intro
The book of james is a wondeerful book of christian maturity. In chapter 1 we are told that a mature christian is pateint in trouble. In chapter 2 we are told that amture christian is practices the truth.
In chaptrer 3 we are given pure goild from heaven: A mature christian controlls his tongue.
A pastor friend told me about a member of his church who was a notorious gossip.
She would “hang on the phone” most of the day, sharing tidbits with any and all who would listen.
She came to the pastor one day and said, “Pastor, the Lord has convicted me of my sin of gossip. My tongue is getting me and others into trouble.”
My friend knew she was not sincere because she had gone through that routine before.
Guardedly he asked, “Well, what do you plan to do?”
“I want to put my tongue on the altar,” she replied with pious fervor.
Calmly my friend replied, “There isn’t an altar big enough,” and he left her to think it over.
Christian often suffer from tongue caused problems.
James had warned them to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
The believer who does not bridle his tongue is not truly religious.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
We must speak and act as though we were already facing Christ in judgment.
12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
The power of speech is one of the greatest powers God has given us.
With the tongue, man can praise God, pray, preach the Word, and lead the lost to Christ.
What a privilege!
But with that same tongue he can tell lies that could ruin a man’s reputation or break a person’s heart.
The ability to speak words is the ability to influence others and accomplish tremendous tasks; and yet we take this ability for granted.
Little thing, big power
Little thing, big power
1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.
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.
3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.
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.
The person who is able to discipline his tongue gives evidence that he can control his whole body. He proves that he is a mature (perfect) man.
How can controlling 1 meber, the tongue, effect the whold person?
No, because words usually lead to deeds.
During World War II we were accustomed to seeing posters that read LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS!
But loose lips also wreck lives.
A person makes an unguarded statement with his mouth and suddenly finds himself involved in a fight with his whole body.
His tongue has forced the rest of his body to defend itself.
In selecting the bit and the rudder, James presented two items that are small of themselves, yet exercise great power, just like the tongue.
A small bit enables the rider to control the great horse, and a small rudder enables the pilot to steer the huge ship.
The tongue is a small member in the body, and yet it has the power to accomplish great things.
Both the bit and the rudder must overcome contrary forces.
The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse, and the rudder must fight the winds and currents that would drive the ship off its course.
The human tongue also must overcome contrary forces.
We have an old nature that wants to control us and make us sin.
There are circumstances around us that would make us say things we ought not to say.
Sin on the inside and pressures on the outside are seeking to get control of the tongue.
This means that both the bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand.
The expert horseman keeps the mighty power of his steed under control, and the experienced pilot courageously steers the ship through the storm.
When Jesus Christ controls the tongue, then we need not fear saying the wrong things—or even saying the right things in a wrong way!
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
warned Solomon.
No wonder David prayed:
3 Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4 Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
David knew that the heart is the key to right speech.
34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.
When Jesus Christ is the Lord of the heart, then He is Lord of the lips too.
The Power to affect the Lives of Others
The Power to affect the Lives of Others
The bit and rudder have the power to direct, which means they affect the lives of others.
A runaway horse or a shipwreck could mean injury or death to pedestrians or passengers.
The words we speak affect the lives of others.
A judge says “Guilty!” or “Not Guilty!” and those words affect the destiny of the prisoner, his family, and his friends.
A President speaks a few words and signs some papers and the nation is at war.
Even a simple yes or no from the lips of a parent can greatly affect the direction of a child’s life.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Never underestimate the guidance you give by the words you speak or do not speak.
Jesus spoke to a woman at a well, and her life and the lives of her neighbors experienced a miraculous change (John 4).
Peter preached at Pentecost and 3,000 souls came to salvation through faith in Christ (Acts 2).
On April 21, 1855, Edward Kimball went into a Boston shoe store and led young Dwight L. Moody to Christ.
The result: one of history’s greatest evangelists, a man whose ministry still continues.
The tongue has the power to direct others to the right choices.
It would do us all good to read frequently the Book of Proverbs, and to note especially the many references to speech.
1 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
22 Lying lips are abomination to the LORD: but they that deal truly are his delight.
19 In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips is wise.