THE UNBRIDLED MAN

We hear very little about James the author of the book of James in the New Testament; and if you’re not one who owns or uses a hardcopy bible, you probably don’t know that it’s a tiny book squeezed between Hebrews and Peter’s books. James was a rather brutal man in his speech – blunt and unfiltered. After encouraging Jewish believers scattered abroad to persevere in faith in Chapter 1 and teaching them on treating everyone fairly in Chapter 2, look how he opens up Chapter 3 [which is the focus of today’s piece]:

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.😂

Apostle James, but why?😂 Look how The Message Bible puts verses 1 & 2:

Don’t be in any rush to become a teacher, my friends.🤭 Teaching is highly responsible work. Teachers are held to the strictest standards. And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.

James makes an assertion, that a man in control of his tongue is in control of all other areas of his life. Rather profound, no? He says [verse 2]:

^[KJV] For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

 ^[NIV] We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

^[NLT] Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

He continues by saying:

³We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bridle/bit in its mouth. ⁴And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong.

 

⁵In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. ⁶And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

⁷People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, ⁸but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

And we thought Paul was vicious!😂 But rightly so, my friend. Your words can tear down in a fraction of a minute what you have spent half a decade to build. Your tongue can close doors you have laboured to swing open. Your words can undo huge opportunities God has placed in your path to prosper you in your time on this earth. The wise king, Solomon said in Proverbs 18:

²¹The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

James continues in Chapter 3:

⁹With the tongue we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse those who are made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. It should not be like this, my brothers! ¹¹A spring cannot pour both fresh and salty water from the same opening, can it? ¹²My brothers, a fig tree cannot produce olives, nor a grapevine figs, can it? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

James was not playing around. In Chapter 1:26 he had already given them a stern warning:

^[TPT] If someone believes they have a relationship with God but fails to guard his words then his heart is drifting away and his religion is shallow and empty.

^[NIV] Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.

The Holy Spirit, through these writers, was essentially saying one thing: your tongue, your words are not only a reflection of the God on your insides but are mighty enough to render your entire walk (your prayers, your witness, your reputation as a believer, your ministry, etc.) shallow and worthless. If that’s not profound, I don’t know what is.

Solomon said Proverbs 12:18 [TPT]

‘Reckless words are like the thrusts of a sword, cutting remarks meant to stab and to hurt. But the words of the wise soothe and heal.’

Solomon was trying to be polite😂, but what’s the opposite of wise? Foolish! So if Solomon was anything like James, the scripture would have read ‘The words of foolish people are like the thrusts of a sword, cutting remarks meant to stab and to hurt. But the words of the wise soothe and heal.’ Three chapters in though, in Chapter 15, he mastered courage and said:

^[NKJV] The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

The tongue is hardly ever talked about, but it is one of the surest way a man can destroy himself, tear everyone down, and ensure that the light around him and everyone else around him is as black as a creeping nightmare. Conversely, a man whose words are well-seasoned carries with him wellness and progress and light and joy. He represents the very essence and nature of God – love. Little wonder right after the Lord told David in Psalm 32:8 that He will advise and guard him, He immediately told David:

“Do not be like a senseless horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

The tongue can be a weapon or an armour, saint. Is it not interesting that one of the things that makes a man perfect is the fact that he has tamed his tongue? When Jesus touched on the subject, He said “a good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.” Until we meet again in a week or two, I leave you with Paul’s words in Colossians 4:6:

^[NIV] Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

^[TPT] Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith.

Love you folks!

Rad!💖