WEEK TWO - THE TROUBLESOME TONGUE
“That may be popular, but it’s not attractive.” My mama must’ve spoken those words to me hundreds of times as I was growing up.
She wasn’t referring to my clothing. She was talking about my manner of speech. Sarcasm was in style, and I quickly become a master at it. It didn’t take long for it to become a habit that was difficult to stop.
The problem, of course, was not my physical tongue. It was the words in my head that flowed out my mouth. Those words didn’t just jump inside while I was stopped for a traffic light. They took up residence in my mind because I ignored a few basic truths.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 nasdb
“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.” Matthew 15:18 nasb
I wasn’t careful about the books I read, the movies I watched, the music to which I listened. I didn’t realize it, but the words of those books, movies, and songs quickly made their way into my head, where they affected my own words and, eventually, my actions.
We can bless God and our fellow men with our tongues or we can spread curses and destruction. The choice is up to us.
This week, we’re studying what God has to say about the tongue, our words, and how we use them. We’ll move from worthless religion, to teachers, to bits and rudders, to fire and flames, but it is all centers on controlling our tongue.
DAY ONE: WORTHLESS RELIGION
In our culture of entitlement, the freedom to say whatever we please, to whomever we want, in any manner we choose, is indulged as if a prize could be gained for the worst, most hate-filled, spiteful words.
I’ve heard Christians justify this kind of rhetoric because “Jesus said hard things to the Pharisees”. He said that they were like “whitewashed tombs, full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” because of the sin in their lives. He did not use the pejorative speech so rampant today. (Matthew 23:27)
“That may be popular, but it’s not attractive.” My mama must’ve spoken those words to me hundreds of times as I was growing up.
She wasn’t referring to my clothing. She was talking about my manner of speech. Sarcasm was in style, and I quickly become a master at it. It didn’t take long for it to become a habit that was difficult to stop.
The problem, of course, was not my physical tongue. It was the words in my head that flowed out my mouth. Those words didn’t just jump inside while I was stopped for a traffic light. They took up residence in my mind because I ignored a few basic truths.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8 nasdb
“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.” Matthew 15:18 nasb
I wasn’t careful about the books I read, the movies I watched, the music to which I listened. I didn’t realize it, but the words of those books, movies, and songs quickly made their way into my head, where they affected my own words and, eventually, my actions.
We can bless God and our fellow men with our tongues or we can spread curses and destruction. The choice is up to us.
This week, we’re studying what God has to say about the tongue, our words, and how we use them. We’ll move from worthless religion, to teachers, to bits and rudders, to fire and flames, but it is all centers on controlling our tongue.
DAY ONE: WORTHLESS RELIGION
In our culture of entitlement, the freedom to say whatever we please, to whomever we want, in any manner we choose, is indulged as if a prize could be gained for the worst, most hate-filled, spiteful words.
I’ve heard Christians justify this kind of rhetoric because “Jesus said hard things to the Pharisees”. He said that they were like “whitewashed tombs, full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness” because of the sin in their lives. He did not use the pejorative speech so rampant today. (Matthew 23:27)
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Jesus is God and He spoke truth. He is truth.
If we truly want to speak TRUTH, we need to speak Jesus, for He is the way, the TRUTH, and
the life. (John 14:6)
Our words matter. They need to be pleasing to God, for we will one day give an accounting of them. I have to remind myself of this far too often. Every word is a choice we make. As disciples of Christ, we are called to choose wisely.
If we truly want to speak TRUTH, we need to speak Jesus, for He is the way, the TRUTH, and
the life. (John 14:6)
Our words matter. They need to be pleasing to God, for we will one day give an accounting of them. I have to remind myself of this far too often. Every word is a choice we make. As disciples of Christ, we are called to choose wisely.
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1) Read James 1:26 and copy the verse here:
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2) Using your Bible app, copy the verse in another translation. (NOTE: The Message is a
paraphrase. It is not a translation. It’s fine for general reading, and I enjoy it, but it’s not a
study Bible. If we want to know and handle truth appropriately, we need to use a quality
translation of the Bible for study.)
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3) It’s easy, when we speak amiss, to use the excuse that we “couldn’t help it” or “it just slipped
out.” What does Psalm 39:1 say about that excuse?
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4) If we have difficulty keeping control of our tongue, what should we do? See Psalm 141:3.
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5) We turn now to a study of the original language for further clarity. Open your Blue Letter
Bible app to James 1:26. Look first at the word translated as “religious”. Write the word and
anything you learn about it here:
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6) Look at the word translated as “religion”. Write the word and anything you learn about it
here:
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7) Compare and contrast the two definitions in terms of the religion we think we have versus
the religion we actually have.
8) The word translated as “deceives” can also mean “cheats”. In a very real way, when we see
our faith as something it is not, we cheat ourselves.
Use BLB to find the word translated as “worthless”. What did you learn?
Use BLB to find the word translated as “worthless”. What did you learn?
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PRAYER PAUSE:
Let’s take a few minutes to consider our own speech. Does it reflect the Savior we say we serve or not?
Ask yourself these questions:
Let’s take a few minutes to consider our own speech. Does it reflect the Savior we say we serve or not?
Ask yourself these questions:
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a) How is the truth of my religion revealed in my speech?
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b) What does my speech say about my faith?
c) What assumptions would a lost person make about Jesus if he/she were judging Him strictly
by the words you’ve said this week?
d) Take a moment to repent of any words that are unpleasing to God and ask Him to make the
words of your mouth and the meditations of your heart acceptable to Him. (Psalm 19:14
would be a good verse to memorize this week.)
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DAY TWO: CAUTIOUS TEACHERS
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.” James 3:1
This is a frightening verse for someone who teaches as much as I. Despite the sheer volume of teaching and writing I do, it’s done with a sense of trepidation. The very idea of a “stricter judgment” chills me.
Because of that high standard, I’m careful about what I teach.
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we shall incur a stricter judgment.” James 3:1
This is a frightening verse for someone who teaches as much as I. Despite the sheer volume of teaching and writing I do, it’s done with a sense of trepidation. The very idea of a “stricter judgment” chills me.
Because of that high standard, I’m careful about what I teach.
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- It’s why I spend so much time studying Scripture before I attempt to teach.
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- It’s why I read commentaries only after I’ve thoroughly examined the Word.
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- It’s why I look to well-respected commentators whose work has stood the test of time.
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- It’s why I have a trustworthy minister review every word of Bible study I write.
You’ve probably heard the expression, “You may be the only Bible some people ever read.” If that’s true, and it is, we all live in the unenviable position of teacher to someone. Family. Friends. Acquaintances. Strangers. People can’t help but notice how we behave in public and, if they know we are believers, they judge Christ by what they see in us.
In a very real sense, we’re all leaders. We’re all teachers. What we say with our mouths speaks volumes, often teaching more than we wish we had. What we say with our lives is a testimony that speaks louder than the godliest words. We teach with our words and deeds, whether we intend to or not.
With that in mind, let’s look a little closer at what Scripture has to say about how we teach and lead.
1) Open Blue Letter Bible to James 3:1 and click on the entry for the word “teacher” under the Strong’s column. The word translated as teacher is didaskalos. Scroll down to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, where you’ll find the meaning of the word as used in this verse. (It’s #6)
With what help do teachers do the work of teaching?
We cannot effectively teach in our own strength. All effective and godly teaching is done with a sense of the seriousness of the work and with the empowering of the Holy Spirit. When we teach, whether it be to pre-schoolers in a choir class or adults in an in-depth Bible study, we must approach our work with the godly dread of one speaking on behalf of Our Lord.
2) Jesus had a bit to say about teachers, as well. Read Matthew 23:1-12. a) What was the motivation of the scribes and Pharisees when they
taught?
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b) How effectively did their lives model the principles they taught?
c) Who is to be our leader? According to whose teaching are we to live? (verse10)
d) Instead of seeking the position of leader, which position are we to seek?
PRAYER PAUSE:
Take a few moments to consider all the ways in which you serve as a teacher and list them here.
Ask yourself:
How seriously do I take the responsibility of teacher?
In what ways have I consciously chosen to exalt myself?
In what ways have I consciously chosen to humble myself?
What changes do I need to make to align my life with the standard of teachers described here?
c) Who is to be our leader? According to whose teaching are we to live? (verse10)
d) Instead of seeking the position of leader, which position are we to seek?
PRAYER PAUSE:
Take a few moments to consider all the ways in which you serve as a teacher and list them here.
Ask yourself:
How seriously do I take the responsibility of teacher?
In what ways have I consciously chosen to exalt myself?
In what ways have I consciously chosen to humble myself?
What changes do I need to make to align my life with the standard of teachers described here?
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The Lesson in the Margin:
In the margin of my Bible, next to the passage in Matthew 23, is this notation/prayer:
“Oh, God, may I continually remember who I am in relation to who You are: A sinner saved by grace.” Let’s make this our prayer today, as well.
In the margin of my Bible, next to the passage in Matthew 23, is this notation/prayer:
“Oh, God, may I continually remember who I am in relation to who You are: A sinner saved by grace.” Let’s make this our prayer today, as well.
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DAY THREE: BITS AND RUDDERS
I had wanted to adopt a wild mustang for years. My son, Ryan, and I were at a horse show when we saw a display about adopting mustangs. Instantly, my ill-formed desire transformed into determination. It took Ryan a little longer to embrace the idea, but he was soon on board with my plan. We read about mustangs for months. Scoured the Bureau of Land Management website for information. Constructed a sturdy shelter. Listened to wise counsel and rejected it all.
I wanted a mustang, and I was determined to have one.
Ryan and I drove to a regional mustang holding facility for an adoption. “You can only have a yearling. It will be easier to gentle and train,” I told Ryan, drawing on my non-existent expertise. “Look for the horse that comes up to you at the fence and lets you pet her.”
A skinny filly that looked more like a baby buffalo than a horse nuzzled him through the wire. He’d found his mustang. I’m ashamed to admit it, because it was so foolish, but we also adopted a five-year old stallion that had been passed over in multiple adoptions. He’d never been touched. He’d never been handled. He’d never been ridden.
Despite my years of unrelenting effort, he never was.
We went to work immediately. Ryan was great at gentling the filly. He attached a lead rope to her halter and led her around the barn a few hours after we returned home. We fed her and played with her. Ryan eventually learned to ride her.
There was a problem, though. She still had just enough “wild” in her to resent doing what he asked. An experienced horseman might have had more success, but, with Ryan, her problems only worsened. The more she grew, the worse it became. Ryan used his reins to direct her, but she refused to obey.
We changed her headgear. We changed bits. Everything helped. Briefly. We bought a bit with a harsh mouthpiece. No change. The problem wasn’t in her headgear or bit. The problem was in her heart. She didn’t want to be tamed.
She loved to run and she was fast. If you asked for a gallop, she would give it. If you asked for a walk, she might buck you off, instead. Eventually, we bought Ryan another horse and found the mustang another home.
I kept the mustang much longer than I should have for one reason. I saw too much of myself in her. I spent years refusing to be tamed. God allowed some harsh things into my life. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t quick, but, eventually, I was tamed. Gentled. Broken. I thought she’d break, too. I eventually learned that, for both stubborn women and recalcitrant mustangs, being tamed comes only with surrender.
I had wanted to adopt a wild mustang for years. My son, Ryan, and I were at a horse show when we saw a display about adopting mustangs. Instantly, my ill-formed desire transformed into determination. It took Ryan a little longer to embrace the idea, but he was soon on board with my plan. We read about mustangs for months. Scoured the Bureau of Land Management website for information. Constructed a sturdy shelter. Listened to wise counsel and rejected it all.
I wanted a mustang, and I was determined to have one.
Ryan and I drove to a regional mustang holding facility for an adoption. “You can only have a yearling. It will be easier to gentle and train,” I told Ryan, drawing on my non-existent expertise. “Look for the horse that comes up to you at the fence and lets you pet her.”
A skinny filly that looked more like a baby buffalo than a horse nuzzled him through the wire. He’d found his mustang. I’m ashamed to admit it, because it was so foolish, but we also adopted a five-year old stallion that had been passed over in multiple adoptions. He’d never been touched. He’d never been handled. He’d never been ridden.
Despite my years of unrelenting effort, he never was.
We went to work immediately. Ryan was great at gentling the filly. He attached a lead rope to her halter and led her around the barn a few hours after we returned home. We fed her and played with her. Ryan eventually learned to ride her.
There was a problem, though. She still had just enough “wild” in her to resent doing what he asked. An experienced horseman might have had more success, but, with Ryan, her problems only worsened. The more she grew, the worse it became. Ryan used his reins to direct her, but she refused to obey.
We changed her headgear. We changed bits. Everything helped. Briefly. We bought a bit with a harsh mouthpiece. No change. The problem wasn’t in her headgear or bit. The problem was in her heart. She didn’t want to be tamed.
She loved to run and she was fast. If you asked for a gallop, she would give it. If you asked for a walk, she might buck you off, instead. Eventually, we bought Ryan another horse and found the mustang another home.
I kept the mustang much longer than I should have for one reason. I saw too much of myself in her. I spent years refusing to be tamed. God allowed some harsh things into my life. It wasn’t easy, and it wasn’t quick, but, eventually, I was tamed. Gentled. Broken. I thought she’d break, too. I eventually learned that, for both stubborn women and recalcitrant mustangs, being tamed comes only with surrender.
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Read James 3:2-4. These verse make mention of the difficulty of controlling our tongues.
In order to control a horse, a rider generally uses a kind of headgear with a mouthpiece, or bit. The best bits are made of metal because of its durability. Copper, which causes salivation, may be a component of the bit. The saliva it produces acts as a lubricant for the metal in the mouth.
One misconception is that a “soft” bit is less harsh. These bits are easy on the mouth, but may teach the horse to pull against the pressure and become less responsive to the cues of its rider.
Different styles of bits are chosen with control of the horse in mind. Riders usually choose the bit to which the horse responds with the least amount of pressure. The pressure applied by the bit tells the horse when to turn, slow down, speed up, or stop. It communicates the desires of the rider.
A well-trained horse will respond to a feather-light touch on the reins, often responding first to the pressure of the rider’s knees or a slight shift in body position with minimal bit pressure required.
In that same way, we can learn to control our tongues, our speech, and we are expected to do so.
3) “Bridle” is used in this verse as a verb, not a noun. We don’t bridle our tongues (or our bodies) with a piece of tongue-and-body-controlling equipment. Follow the link to learn more about how to bridle our tongues.
No matter how mature our faith, bridling our tongue or our behavior does not happen automatically. It’s a choice.
4) How might God apply pressure to us when we need better control of our tongues?
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1) What does Scripture tell us about those who are able to control their tongues? (vs 2)
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2) Dynatos is the word translated as “able”. Follow the link to learn about this ability. To what
degree is this ability given?
In order to control a horse, a rider generally uses a kind of headgear with a mouthpiece, or bit. The best bits are made of metal because of its durability. Copper, which causes salivation, may be a component of the bit. The saliva it produces acts as a lubricant for the metal in the mouth.
One misconception is that a “soft” bit is less harsh. These bits are easy on the mouth, but may teach the horse to pull against the pressure and become less responsive to the cues of its rider.
Different styles of bits are chosen with control of the horse in mind. Riders usually choose the bit to which the horse responds with the least amount of pressure. The pressure applied by the bit tells the horse when to turn, slow down, speed up, or stop. It communicates the desires of the rider.
A well-trained horse will respond to a feather-light touch on the reins, often responding first to the pressure of the rider’s knees or a slight shift in body position with minimal bit pressure required.
In that same way, we can learn to control our tongues, our speech, and we are expected to do so.
3) “Bridle” is used in this verse as a verb, not a noun. We don’t bridle our tongues (or our bodies) with a piece of tongue-and-body-controlling equipment. Follow the link to learn more about how to bridle our tongues.
No matter how mature our faith, bridling our tongue or our behavior does not happen automatically. It’s a choice.
4) How might God apply pressure to us when we need better control of our tongues?
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James 3:4 references the effectiveness of a tiny rudder to direct the direction of a large ship. A
rudder is a small piece of wood or other material that’s positioned laterally at the back of a boat.
When it’s moved to the left or the right, it changes the direction in which the vessel goes. The
size of a rudder is roughly 1-2% of the lateral underwater area of the boat.
The tiny rudder controls the direction of the boat. James suggests that the tongue, tiny in comparison to the size of our bodies, can control our direction, as well.
5) How have you seen the truth of this in your life?
PRAYER PAUSE:
Control of our tongues is not optional for a mature believer, whether we be in public or in private, with strangers, friends or family.
Ask yourself:
How much control do I allow God to exert over my tongue?
How consistently do I reflect Christ in my speech? When have I spoken in ways that were displeasing to God?
How did He try to “rein me in”?
Read Matthew 15:18 aloud, then write the verse here.
The tiny rudder controls the direction of the boat. James suggests that the tongue, tiny in comparison to the size of our bodies, can control our direction, as well.
5) How have you seen the truth of this in your life?
PRAYER PAUSE:
Control of our tongues is not optional for a mature believer, whether we be in public or in private, with strangers, friends or family.
Ask yourself:
How much control do I allow God to exert over my tongue?
How consistently do I reflect Christ in my speech? When have I spoken in ways that were displeasing to God?
How did He try to “rein me in”?
Read Matthew 15:18 aloud, then write the verse here.
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What do my words say about the condition of my heart?
How does my heart need to change in order for my speech to be more Christlike?
How does my heart need to change in order for my speech to be more Christlike?
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DAY FOUR: FIRE AND FLAMES
The dried winter grass on the levee was waist high and considerably tougher than my weed-eater string. My farm hand had a great idea. We could burn it off. Without taking time to consider the gentle wind that was blowing, I voiced my agreement. He bent down, lighter in hand, and set fire to tinder.
The flames grew faster than I thought possible. When the wind picked up, the fire danced across the levee and into my yard, burning trees, shrubs, and grass as it went. In minutes, the distance from flames to my house was decreased to mere yards, despite the steady rush of water from the garden hose and a steady bucket brigade of water drawn from the lake.
As the devouring tongues of fire inched ever closer to my back door, I understood, in an all-too- personal way, “how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire.”
Just as the small bit in the mouth of a large horse can direct it’s path, and the tiny rudder can change the course of a ship, so the tiny tongue can have a great effect, not only on our lives, but also on those around us.
1) Read our focus passage for today, James 3:5-8. What adjectives (description words) are used to describe the tongue?
2) How does our speech (our “tongue”) differentiate humans from animals?
3) What damage does James say the tongue can cause?
4) Use the BLB to look at the word translated as “course”. What else can this word mean? How might this symbolize our lives?
5) Hebrews 12:1 describes our journey through life in terms of a race that’s run over a sometimes treacherous course. How might our tongues disrupt or defile that course?
6) Use the BLB to examine James 3:8. Be sure to look at the words translated as “deadly poison” and “restless evil”. How else are these words used?
The dried winter grass on the levee was waist high and considerably tougher than my weed-eater string. My farm hand had a great idea. We could burn it off. Without taking time to consider the gentle wind that was blowing, I voiced my agreement. He bent down, lighter in hand, and set fire to tinder.
The flames grew faster than I thought possible. When the wind picked up, the fire danced across the levee and into my yard, burning trees, shrubs, and grass as it went. In minutes, the distance from flames to my house was decreased to mere yards, despite the steady rush of water from the garden hose and a steady bucket brigade of water drawn from the lake.
As the devouring tongues of fire inched ever closer to my back door, I understood, in an all-too- personal way, “how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire.”
Just as the small bit in the mouth of a large horse can direct it’s path, and the tiny rudder can change the course of a ship, so the tiny tongue can have a great effect, not only on our lives, but also on those around us.
1) Read our focus passage for today, James 3:5-8. What adjectives (description words) are used to describe the tongue?
2) How does our speech (our “tongue”) differentiate humans from animals?
3) What damage does James say the tongue can cause?
4) Use the BLB to look at the word translated as “course”. What else can this word mean? How might this symbolize our lives?
5) Hebrews 12:1 describes our journey through life in terms of a race that’s run over a sometimes treacherous course. How might our tongues disrupt or defile that course?
6) Use the BLB to examine James 3:8. Be sure to look at the words translated as “deadly poison” and “restless evil”. How else are these words used?
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How might our tongues be used as “deadly poison”?
PRAYER PAUSE:
If you’ve spent much time on social media, you’ve seen examples of inflammatory speech that caused great damage. Even less inflammatory speech can also cause hurt to others and damage reputations. Let’s consider our own speech, both digital and personal.
Ask yourself these questions:
PRAYER PAUSE:
If you’ve spent much time on social media, you’ve seen examples of inflammatory speech that caused great damage. Even less inflammatory speech can also cause hurt to others and damage reputations. Let’s consider our own speech, both digital and personal.
Ask yourself these questions:
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a) What damage, if any, has my speech caused? How do people perceive my words, no matter
how well-intended?
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b) In what ways have I used words to slash and wound others? Have I asked their forgiveness?
c) How have I used my tongue to defend myself? Was my defense mounted as an offensive
weapon toward others?
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d) How have I seen words used as a deadly poison? How have I been wounded by hurtful
words? What power do I continue to allow them in my life?
e) Now’s a good time to break the power of old word-wounds, so take a few minutes to forgive
the one who wounded you. Replace those hurts with words of love and truth from Christ
Himself. Instead of recording the hurt, take a few minutes to write out healing words from
our Lord. Read them aloud and claim their truth for your life.
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DAY FIVE: FIGS AND FOUNTAINS
As you begin, read through our focus passage for today, James 3:8-12.
There’s a large fig tree near the barn on my farm. It produces fruit every summer. The harvest isn’t always a large one, but every fruit I gather is always a fig.
There’s also a spring that flows into, and supplies water to, the 10-acre lake on the property. The water from the spring is always fresh and sweet, never salty or bitter.
God set up his creation to behave in a certain way. Plants always bear after their kind. Water always flows after its kind.
We, on the other hand, behave in a way God never intended. We use our mouths to speak both curses and blessings.
6) Based on the passage in James, if we bless God while cursing those who are made in the image of God, we have a sin problem that, like my fig tree, may require drastic pruning. How have you blessed God and cursed those made in His image by your words?
As you begin, read through our focus passage for today, James 3:8-12.
There’s a large fig tree near the barn on my farm. It produces fruit every summer. The harvest isn’t always a large one, but every fruit I gather is always a fig.
There’s also a spring that flows into, and supplies water to, the 10-acre lake on the property. The water from the spring is always fresh and sweet, never salty or bitter.
God set up his creation to behave in a certain way. Plants always bear after their kind. Water always flows after its kind.
We, on the other hand, behave in a way God never intended. We use our mouths to speak both curses and blessings.
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1) We, too, were designed to “bear after our kind”. In whose image were we made? (See
Genesis 1:26)
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2) In whose image, then, are we intended to live and speak?
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3) Matthew also wrote about the consistency of fruit. Read Matthew 7:16-20. What kind of fruit
does a good tree bear?
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4) What kind of fruit does a bad tree bear?
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5) What should be done with a tree that bears bad fruit?
6) Based on the passage in James, if we bless God while cursing those who are made in the image of God, we have a sin problem that, like my fig tree, may require drastic pruning. How have you blessed God and cursed those made in His image by your words?
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5) How might we “curse” someone without using swear words?
6) Use BLB to compare and contrast the words translated as “bless” and “curse” in James 3:9.
PRAYER PAUSE:
James refers to “my brethren” in James 3:10. It’s important to understand that James’ admonitions about the dangers of the tongue were not written to the pagan world at large. He wrote to the church, his brothers and sisters in Christ. The problem of controlling our tongue began in the garden and persists until today. Let’s pause for a moment to think about how consistent our words are with the faith we say we have.
Ask yourself:
1) Do my words and faith match, or not?
2) Do I bless God and curse my fellow believers?
3) What changes do I need to make to make my speech acceptable to God?
Pause now to ask God’s help in making your speech a blessing to God and man.
6) Use BLB to compare and contrast the words translated as “bless” and “curse” in James 3:9.
PRAYER PAUSE:
James refers to “my brethren” in James 3:10. It’s important to understand that James’ admonitions about the dangers of the tongue were not written to the pagan world at large. He wrote to the church, his brothers and sisters in Christ. The problem of controlling our tongue began in the garden and persists until today. Let’s pause for a moment to think about how consistent our words are with the faith we say we have.
Ask yourself:
1) Do my words and faith match, or not?
2) Do I bless God and curse my fellow believers?
3) What changes do I need to make to make my speech acceptable to God?
Pause now to ask God’s help in making your speech a blessing to God and man.
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DAY SIX: ARROGANCE AND BOASTING
A friend commented on a blog post recently. “Pride is one bad dude.” I laughed at the personification, but she was right. Pride’s bad, and it’s indulged at a high price.
Not long ago, I bemoaned the fact that I’d made a decision several years ago, and a commitment, based on the assumption that I would continue practicing medicine for years to come. It would’ve been easy to keep my commitment, if God hadn’t called me into ministry. That call, however, did not change the heavenly mandate to keep my word.
I presumed on the future and made decisions based on a presumption that was faulty. In a way, I was arrogant about my tomorrows and, according to James, that kind of arrogance is sin.
Take a few minutes to read James 4:13-16, our focus Scripture for today. (Read it aloud, as well. Hearing, as well as seeing, the words helps them to become ingrained in us.)
5) Read Matthew 6:25-34 and Acts 18:19-21. As we make plans, what else do we need to consider?
A friend commented on a blog post recently. “Pride is one bad dude.” I laughed at the personification, but she was right. Pride’s bad, and it’s indulged at a high price.
Not long ago, I bemoaned the fact that I’d made a decision several years ago, and a commitment, based on the assumption that I would continue practicing medicine for years to come. It would’ve been easy to keep my commitment, if God hadn’t called me into ministry. That call, however, did not change the heavenly mandate to keep my word.
I presumed on the future and made decisions based on a presumption that was faulty. In a way, I was arrogant about my tomorrows and, according to James, that kind of arrogance is sin.
Take a few minutes to read James 4:13-16, our focus Scripture for today. (Read it aloud, as well. Hearing, as well as seeing, the words helps them to become ingrained in us.)
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1) I think of arrogant boasting as a kind of “I am” statement. James broadens the definition to
include “I will” statements, as well. What is the arrogant boast described in James 4:13-16?
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2) What is the goal of the planned adventure described in these verses? (v. 13)
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3) Making a financial profit is not sin, unless it becomes the primary goal of our lives. Using
BLB, examine the word translated as “profit” in v. 13. What kind of profit did the “plan”
described in James yield? What kind of profit would God prefer we pursue?
5) Read Matthew 6:25-34 and Acts 18:19-21. As we make plans, what else do we need to consider?
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5) Job described our lives as “just a breath”. (Job 7:7) James (4:14) describes it as a “mist” or
“vapor”. Our lives are brief, and over before we know it. No matter what assumptions we make,
life can change in an instant.
How, then, should we live in terms of serving Christ? How should we live in terms of family and friends?
PRAYER PAUSE:
The question, of course, is one of priority. Whose desires and opinions drive our decisions? What is the driving force of our lives? To what do we devote the most time, attention, concern? What most often occupies our mind?
Make a list of your top four priorities. After you’ve made your list, arrange them in order of most important to least. #1 should be the priority that occupies the largest percentage of time, energy, resources, thoughts. Rank the others using a similar guide.
How, then, should we live in terms of serving Christ? How should we live in terms of family and friends?
PRAYER PAUSE:
The question, of course, is one of priority. Whose desires and opinions drive our decisions? What is the driving force of our lives? To what do we devote the most time, attention, concern? What most often occupies our mind?
Make a list of your top four priorities. After you’ve made your list, arrange them in order of most important to least. #1 should be the priority that occupies the largest percentage of time, energy, resources, thoughts. Rank the others using a similar guide.
Are you putting first things first? Are you priorities what they should be? Take a moment to
rearrange priorities if needed and make a list of actions that should be taken to get your life in
line with Godly priorities.
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DAY SEVEN: SPEAKING AND JUDGING
When I attended new member class at Hope Church before joining, I was surprised by the Membership Agreement we were asked to sign. There were eight statements to which we were to agree before we presented ourselves for new membership. One of them read:
“I RECOGNIZE my responsibility to cooperate with the leadership of the Elders and staff. I will refrain from gossip. Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 4:29”
I’ve never seen such an intentional commitment associated with church membership before, but it’s certainly Biblical. Neither gossiping about fellow believers nor criticizing them are acceptable behaviors in the body of Christ, as James so eloquently points out.
There is One who will act as judge, and that is the Lord alone. (1 Cor. 4:4-5) Nowhere in the Bible are we told to judge and criticize either our neighbors or our brothers and sisters in Christ.
When I attended new member class at Hope Church before joining, I was surprised by the Membership Agreement we were asked to sign. There were eight statements to which we were to agree before we presented ourselves for new membership. One of them read:
“I RECOGNIZE my responsibility to cooperate with the leadership of the Elders and staff. I will refrain from gossip. Hebrews 13:17; Ephesians 4:29”
I’ve never seen such an intentional commitment associated with church membership before, but it’s certainly Biblical. Neither gossiping about fellow believers nor criticizing them are acceptable behaviors in the body of Christ, as James so eloquently points out.
There is One who will act as judge, and that is the Lord alone. (1 Cor. 4:4-5) Nowhere in the Bible are we told to judge and criticize either our neighbors or our brothers and sisters in Christ.
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1) Let’s begin by reading our focus passages, James 4:11-12, James 5:9. What do these
Scriptures say about criticizing fellow believers?
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2) The word translated as “speak against” is katalaleō. Strong’s defines it as “to be a traducer”.
That’s a new word for me, so I opted to include a dictionary link for you to follow. What
does traducer mean?
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3) The placement of these words directly after James’ admonition to humble ourselves is no
accident. Humbling ourselves is a key element in avoiding the sin of traducing. When we see
ourselves in relation to the holiness of God, we are less likely to see ourselves as higher than
anyone, particularly our fellow believers. Let’s read through the definition again and ask
ourselves a hard question. How have we (intentionally or unintentionally) traduced anyone?
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4)
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What did Jesus say about judging others? See Matthew 7:1-5
When we speak against others, James tells us, we judge them. When we judge them, what do we also judge?
What is the “royal law” of Jesus concerning how we treat others? (See James 2:8)
When we speak against others, James tells us, we judge them. When we judge them, what do we also judge?
What is the “royal law” of Jesus concerning how we treat others? (See James 2:8)
When we speak in judgment against “the law”, we are, in essence, speaking against the author of
that law. We, in a manner of speaking, place ourselves in the position of judge against God
Himself, and that’s not a place we want to be.
Jesus desired obedience, first and foremost, for His followers. John 17 makes it clear that He also desired unity. When we criticize, judge, or gossip about fellow believers, we destroy the unity of our fellowship and set ourselves up as a judge of the law of Jesus. In essence, we presume to be the judge of Christ Himself. This should never be.
Ask yourself:
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7) What did Jesus say about how we are to treat our fellow believers? (Matthew 27:38-40 and
Matthew 7:12)
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8) What might cause us to speak out against others inappropriately, whether by gossip or by
judgment (or both) and what should we do about it? (See 1 Peter 2:1)
Jesus desired obedience, first and foremost, for His followers. John 17 makes it clear that He also desired unity. When we criticize, judge, or gossip about fellow believers, we destroy the unity of our fellowship and set ourselves up as a judge of the law of Jesus. In essence, we presume to be the judge of Christ Himself. This should never be.
Ask yourself:
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1) Do I gossip about others, even with what is said in terms of a “prayer request”?
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2) How do my words about and toward others demonstrate criticism and judgment toward
them?
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3) What changes should in my speech in order to be pleasing to Christ?
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4) Now is a good time to join the “I will not gossip” movement. Why not repent of any
previous gossip and commit to speak gossip/criticism/judgment free? Write your prayer of
repentance and commitment here. Make note of the date for a reminder of your vow at a later
time.
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