Me and My Big Mouth: The Untamable Tongue (James 3:2-12)

Series: Me and My Big Mouth

Sermon Title: The Untamable Tongue

Scripture: James 3:2-12

Date: July 8, 2018

 

Last week's WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Say this a lot to yourself: "Quick to listen, slow to speak."

 

For we all stumble in many things.  If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.  Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.  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.  Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.  See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  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.  For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  But no man can tame the tongue.  It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?  Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.  (James 3:2-12)

 

THE UNTAMABLE TONGUE

 

Quick to listen; slow to speak.

Our lives are shaped by the words spoken to us and about us.

All words are not equally weighted.

The source of words is not equally weighted.

Words hurt immediately but it takes a while to recover from them.

"Our words are the most powerful thing we have."  -Andy Stanley

For we all stumble in many things.  If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.  Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.  (James 3:2-3)

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.  (James 3:4)

Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.  See how great a forest a little fire kindles!  (James 3:5)

 

Jan 1, 2018 - Jun 6, 2018: 24,760 wildfires

Jan 1, 2017 - Jun 6, 2017: 25,699 wildfires

About 1.8 million acres were burned in the 2018 period, compared with 2.3 million in 2017.

2017: 71,499 wildfires according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

About 10 million acres were burned in the 2017 period.

 

Your tongue didn't just get your mouth in trouble but your whole body.

As your words go, so goes your life.

If you start a fire accidentally, you are still responsible for the first one you started.

And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.  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.  (James 3:6)

For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.  But no man can tame the tongue.  (James 3:7-8a)

We cannot tame the tongeue.

It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  (James 3:8b)

"You'll regret opening your mouth.  You'll rarely regret keeping it shut."  -Max Lucado

With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.  Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?  Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs?  Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.  (James 3:9-12)

3 helps for us to guard our tongues:

1. Remember
2. Surrender
   • WEEKLY CHALLENGE: Pray this prayer at the beginning of each day: "Heavenly Father, I give you my tongue today, to glorify you this day.  Remind me to be quick to listen and slow to speak."
3. Confess

Dads: our words are the hottest and heaviest.

Children: our words to our parents are the heaviest and hottest they hear.

Ladies: men's egos are so fragile.  Purpose to build the men up and not tear them down with your words.

Men: honor women with your words.