James 3
Taming the Tongue
1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such "wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.
17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
Footnotes:
a. James 3:11 Greek bitter (see also verse 14)
2 comments:
James 3
Wow, James is always tough.
It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
Ouch.
10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.
How can I defend myself against this?
In the next section I really focused in on "humility" part of this verse
by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.
Come on. Is attack cas' character day???
Father this is my prayer for us all. That we all gain the kind of wisdom found in verse 17
the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.
James 3:
I started copying the lines that were TEARING me apart, especially on a day where I've responded to EVERY trial I've had with bitterness, frustration and self-pity, but I realized cas had copied all the same ones.
13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
Lots of things trying to tear me off the walk, and the only reason I'm not further off his path is that they're pulling me in opposite directions.
Father, You know that I'm not feeling up to the multitude of tasks I have right now, being pushed and pulled and never meeting anyone's expectations. Let me change my heart and tongue and meet Yours. For You are the only true judge, the only one I need to consider. Help me to respond to all of these things with love and kindness, not bitterness and frustration. You have given me so many gifts and so many responsiblities, let me be thankful for all the things that need my attention, not be irritated by my inadequacy to be You-omnipotent and omnipresent. Let me lean on You to find comfort and accomplish those tasks You've set before me. Thank you for my daughter, my son, my wife, these men, the talents you have given me, the opportunities you've given me, and let me strive to make you proud, and let the other stuff fall into place. Let me have the wisdom to be all of those things James describes, but mostly let me be loving throughout these fires, Father. I need your loving calmness. In Jesus' name I pray,
Amen
crb
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