Through the Bible - Ezekiel 22-24, James 3
Good morning,
As I mentioned yesterday, James is a very practical book about Christian living. In James chapter 1 we read.
James 1:19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. NKJV
How many of us, at least at times, are just the opposite, quick to speak and slow to listen.
Today's N.T. reading is in James chapter 3 where he deals with the tongue in depth, comparing it to seemingly insignificant things like bridles, and rudders which guide horses and ships, and a small spark which can start a forest fire. But unlike these other things that can be cntrolled, it seems that we cannot control our tongues.
Today's verse relates this to Christian living, to what Wilburforce referred to as "real Christianity".
James 3:13-Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom — it's animal cunning, devilish conniving.
(from THE MESSAGE.)
or from the NKJV
James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. NKJV
MacArthur writes, "Wise is the common Greek word for speculative knowledge and philosophy, but the Hebrews infused it with the much richer meaning of skillfully applying knowledge to the matter of practical living. The word for understanding is used only here in the N.T. and means a specialist or professional who could skillfully apply his expertise to practical situations."
The Old Testament book of proverbs also has a lot to say about the tongue and our use of words. In following, applying the advice in James and in Proverbs below, we will be going a long way in living well, wisely, and humbly. May it be so in our lives today.
Prov 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words,
And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.
28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive. NKJV
Are there things that need to be cleaned up in our lives? A good place to start is with the tongue.
In Christ,
Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net
James 3:1-15
The Untamable Tongue
3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 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. 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 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. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 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. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. NKJV
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