For all of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle. If we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Or look at ships: though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, yet they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member yet it boasts of great exploits.
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone. The word translated 'mistakes' actually means 'to slip up'. Do you know what that feels like? I certainly do! It's not deliberate ... not premeditated ... it was unforeseen ... or a bit careless ... or a word before thinking. Remember James is addressing our tongues ... our speech habits. And we all make many mistakes. People in recovery programs struggling with addictions would say to us, "Acknowledgment is the first step toward recovery." OK ... let's acknowledge our failure in this business of controlling our tongues.
Say it out loud ... I, _________________, have and continue to make many mistakes in the use of my tongue.
Things uttered, things said, are out there ... there is no taking them back and getting them out of circulation. They get archived in people's minds.
The wisdom writer of Proverbs has much to say about this subject. Just a few ...
Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.
Proverbs 12:18
Rash words are like sword thrusts but the tongue of the wise bring healing.
Proverbs 15: 1 - 4
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly. The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
The Jewish writer, Jesus ben Sirach, wrote much about the tongue and was moved by its terrifying potential for damage. He wrote:
The blow of a whip raises a welt, but a blow of the tongue crushes the bones.
Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not as many as have fallen because of the tongue.
James gives two poignant illustrations of control - the bridle on a horse and the rudder of a ship. Considering his illustrations, James is not arguing for silence. Speech is forbidden for Trappist monks. This is not James' goal. The horse is made for movement. The ship was built for transport. The tongue is made for speech. James is arguing control. James wants his readers to be wise in their speech and to understand the power in words. Why? I think he probably had witnessed many mistakes in the use of tongues ... had even been guilty of some.
We need to remember the same wisdom. Be prudent with the words that come out of our mouths and understand the power we wield when we speak.
Lord, today, may my speech reflect You. Put a guard on my mouth. Stop careless or hurtful words from being uttered. I commit to You my mind and my tongue. Sanctify them ...
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