Devotion

Taming the Tongue

James 3:5 – 6 (The Message Version)

"3-5 A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

5-6 It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell."

Sometimes, my mouth seems to have a mind of its own, blurting out words before I've even had a chance to think. It's as if emotions well up and spill out uncontrollably. And judging by social media, I'm not alone in this struggle to rein in what I say.

The early church grappled with the same issue, though they lacked the digital platforms we have today. They had emotions, unchecked thoughts, and hearts prone to sin, just like we do now.

When we allow our thoughts and emotions to roam freely, untethered from God's Word, our words inevitably follow suit. Conversely, when we learn to hold our tongues and stay silent, we grant ourselves the space to reconsider whether our thoughts and emotions are valid or just impulsive reactions. Controlled speech gives us the opportunity to rein in runaway feelings.

With practice and patience, we can mitigate the harm caused by careless speech and avoid hurting others. James rightly warns us that this is no easy task; it requires courage and discipline.

In today's world, social media serves as an extension of our tongues, often amplifying sentiments we wouldn't voice aloud. In a polarized environment, it's effortless to find validation for our words, further stoking the flames.

As the lyrics of a song suggest, words possess the power to uplift or wound, to ignite passion or extinguish it. We should strive for our words to bring life and truth, directing attention back to what truly matters.

James admonishes us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger, likening the tongue to a small but mighty rudder steering a ship.

Yet, taming the tongue proves daunting. Even James acknowledges its unruliness, describing it as a restless evil, brimming with deadly poison.

So, what can we do? I've come to realize that alongside controlling my tongue, I must also tend to my heart. Both Luke and Matthew teach that our words flow from the abundance of our hearts.

This passage underscores that only Jesus can aid us in mastering our tongues. We must seek His help in speaking positively, in reigning in our speech, and in seeking forgiveness when our words miss the mark.

Mr Petkovic

Stage 4 Classroom Teacher

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