Scripture Notes: Taming the Tongue (James 3)

We all know that James is right. The tongue is an untameable little beast, “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (James 3:8). We all know the power of words. We have all said things we wanted to take back. We know what it is like to use our tongues to hurt others, and we know what it is like to have others hurt us by their words. Yet we continue to struggle to tame our tongues, to keep our mouths shut, to think before we speak.

James compares the tongue to the rudder of a ship. It is so small, yet it can guide a large ship wherever the captain wishes it to go. He also compares the tongue to a little fire, just a spark, that can set a whole forest ablaze. If the rudder goes bad, the ship can crash into rocks and sink. If the little fire gets out of control, things burns, lots of things.

So what are we to do? James says that “no human being can tame the tongue” (James 3:8), but God can. He can and will give us His grace to help us control our tongues, to mind our words, to think before we speak. But we have to want it and accept it and use it. With God’s grace, we can fix the little rudder and direct it on the right path toward speech that will truly help and build up others and ourselves. With God’s grace, we can keep the fire under control so that it provides a beautiful light and a nourishing warmth to all those around us.