Koinonia Bible Study
James Chapter 3
October 10th
by
Caree Connolly
We have been learning so much
from the Book of James with the fundamental tools needed to mature as a
woman of Christ. The first chapter of James taught us that we need to find joy
within the tests and trials we face.
Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in
prayer
We know from James 1:5 that
asking for wisdom of God is an important part of our growth.
Jeremiah 33:3 Call to me and I will answer you, and will
tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.
We learned that it is
important to not just be hearers of the Word, but also doers. As like with a
garden. If we do nothing with it, weeds can grow. Or a pond, that develops
moss. A garden must be tilled, and a pond, tended.
James warns us in chapter 2 of
the pitfalls of showing favoritism and being a judge of others. That showing
favoritism is disobeying the law and commits a sin. We saw that the 'Royal Law'
“Love thy neighbor as yourself” is a tool that God gave us not only in the old
testament, but is reenforced by Jesus in the new testament.
James reminded us believers in
James 1:19 how being 'Slow to speak' is eccentail. Our tongues can get us in to
trouble, and we will study more on that in the 3rd chapter of James.
Faith controls the Tongue
James 3:1
My brethren, let not
many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive stricter judgment. NKJV
James saw how many where
trying to be teachers and spiritual leaders, not understanding the tremendous
responsibility and accountability of teaching God's Word and thinking only of
the authority factor. I wonder how many today are teaching, but don't have a
clear knowledge of the scripture. Those who are teaching God's Word face a
stricter punishment. In another KJV version, it uses the word 'condemnation,
which means: to declare officially unfit for use and or also to pronounce
judgment against.
In the Blue Letter Bible
Commentary, Chuck Smith states that teaching the Word of God is an awesome
responsibility. That is so true. If someone is not teaching correctly, and if
any are led astray, those teaching are responsible for those led astray. The
Webster's definition for 'Responsibility' : having to account for ones actions.
Those who are teaching God's Word will have a lot to answer for.
James 3:2-4
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.
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouth, that they may obey us; and we turn
about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great,
and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, wither soever the governor
listeth.
James continues to expound on
further responsibility. From the verse 2, {if any man offend not in word, the
same is a perfect man}, he's speaking of the mouth or tongue.
Teachers must practice what they
teach; otherwise, their teaching is hypocrisy.
And since none of us are perfect, we probably
all in some manner have offended someone in word. If we can control our tongue,
we have better discipline over our whole body. This is the action of a mature
christian.
Psalms 34:13
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. And Matthew 12:34 for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and
by the thy words thou shalt be condemned.
James shows the connection
with 'sins of the tongue' and 'sins of the whole body'.
The words we speak can lead to
the deeds of the body.
In his commentary, Warren
Wiersbe states that during World War 2, there were posters that read; Loose Lips Sink Ships!
Loose lips can also wreck
lives. How often has a fight begun, due to a unguarded statement made? That
statement made with that small tongue has forced the whole body into a
defensive action.
James states in verses 3 and
4, that a ship can not steer without a rudder, and a horse needs a bit to
control a horse. I don't know much about ships or boats, but I did have a horse
when I was younger. She was not a very nice horse, and didn't cooperate unless
she felt like it. She was only guided when the bit was in her mouth, and even
than, it took a stronger hand than mine to direct her. Usually my dad or
brother Phil. That goes as well, with a ship. Warren Wiersbe says that both the
rudder and the bit need to be under control of a strong hand. An expert
horseman can control his steed, and an experienced pilot can steer his vessel
though rough waters.
When we have Jesus in control
of our tongues, we don't need to worry or have fear of saying the wrong thing.
David prayed in Psalm. 141: 3-4 Set a watch, O
Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any
evil things.
James 3:5-6
Even so the tongue
is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a
little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the
tongue among our members, that it defileth
the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set
on fire of hell.
It's an amazing and scary
thought, the damage that the tongue can do in such a short time. James likens
it to a fire. We've all seen what fire can do. We have to contain it within a
fireplace, a wood stove, or a fire pit. But if one single spark gets out, it
can burn down a house, or set a full forest fire.
Our tongue is contained within
our mouth, but one small word can bring irreparable damage. Just like a fire.
Psalm 39: 3 My heart was hot within me, while I was
musing the fire burned: than spake I with my mouth.
That was David speaking. He
shows his fierce anger, and hot-tempered words in 1 Samuel 25. It also tells of
Abigail's calm words that defused the action which almost occurred.
A fire can burn and hurt. My
brothers and I used to run our hand or finger over a candle flame to see how
hot it would get. Yes, the folly of youth.
Words can burn and hurt too.
There's that old saying; Sticks and Stones can break your bones, but Words can
never hurt you. So Not True!
Words can destroy souls too.
The wrong teachings can send someone into eternity without Christ. So our words
should be as it says in 1 Col. 4:6 Let your conversation be full of grace,
seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer anyone. (NIV)
James 3:7-8
For every kind of
beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and
hath been tamed by mankind: But the tongue can no man tame: it is an unruly
evil, full of deadly poison.
Our tongues were just likened
to a fire that destroys. Now its similar to a dangerous animal. My cat, is
domesticated. But she still has instincts that cause her stalk prey. Whether it
be a fly, spider or even my feet. Warren Wiersbe spoke of traveling with his
wife through a wildlife park. There were signs posted: DO NOT LEAVE YOUR CAR! And DO NOT OPEN YOUR WINDOW! The animals might have
looked calm and peaceful, but still capable of doing great damage and killing.
This verse speaks of the fact
that every living creature has in some way, been tamed. We see this everywhere:
Sea World with great Killer Whale, Lions, Tigers, and Bears (oh my) performing
in circus'. Birds that are taught to speak. Even snakes charmers in India.
We know though that one small
seemingly simple organ, called our tongue can not be tamed. More to the point,
James says it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Jesus says in Matthew 15:11 What goes in a man's mouth does not make
him 'unclean', but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him
'unclean'. (NIV) I don't generally use 'The Message', but it brought
this verse into a more blunt statement. “It 's not
what you swallow that pollutes your life, but what you vomit up”.
Yes, that sounds pretty gross. But it sure
describes some of what comes out of the mouth. Television and even books shows
the depravity of our language.
Matthew 15:
18-19 says But those things, which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the
heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts,
murders, adulteries, fornication’s, thefts, false witness, blasphemes.
Doesn't speak well of our
hearts, does it. In his Blue Letter Commentary, Chuck Smith says that the mouth
is the voice piece of man. The man reveals what's inside of him by his tongue.
Wow. Scary thought.
James
3: 9-12
Therewith bless we
God, even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the
similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My
brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the
same place sweet water and bitter? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olive
berries? Either a vine, figs? So can no fountain both yield salt and fresh.
It must have been hard for
James seeing the behavior of the believer during that time. Just as it's hard
for us now. From verse 9, we bless God. That is always an awesome thing. I love
our worship time at church, Or driving in my truck. and sometimes just lying in bed at night,
I'll have a song come to me. Great way to go to sleep.
But we see that James in verse
10, thet that same mouth can curse men.
The human nature is obviously
complex. And our tongue is the most
complex organ. Most of the body can be guided or taught to behave properly. The
tongue does what it wants. Like verse 8 said: No man can tame the tongue.
That's the key though. We can't tame our own tongue. God can! If we yield our spirit to God, He will do for
us what we can't do on our own. To bring the tongue under control, we need to
give God our tongues and hearts everyday asking Him to use us to be a blessing
to others.
As like a fountain or fig
tree, each one can't have something contrary to its true nature. A fig tree
only produces figs not olives, or apples, or other fruit. And a fresh water fountain can't bring up
salt water.
Chuck Smith says that our
tongues are a paradox. Which means: a statement that seems to conflict with
common sense or to contradict itself but that may nevertheless be true.
James 3:13-17
Who is a wise man
and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of good conversation his
works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your
hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom desendeth not
from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where is envying and
strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from
above is first pure, than peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of
mercy and good fruits, without partiality,
and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
James asks: who is a wise
man? Colossians
2:8 says Beware lest any man spoil you
through philosophy and vain deceit, after traditions of men, after rudiments of
the world, and not after Christ.
So, who is a wise man? We see
how scientists, professors, and philosophers might claim to have vast amounts
of knowledge, but do they have a wisdom to know God? They might have worldly
wisdom. True wisdom though comes from God. We learned that from James 1:5 (if
any lacks wisdom, let him ask of God).
The verses 14 and 15 describe
man's wisdom. Ephesians 2:1-3 tells of the 3 enemies of the believer; the
world, the flesh, and the devil. Verse
15 uses the terms: earthly, sensual, and devilish. Co-inside pretty well, don't
they.
Thankfully, we have verse 17
and 18 to bring us back to hope. The wisdom of God is pure, peaceable, and
gentle. Full of mercy. And has good fruits.
Our christian walk is for
sowing and reaping. We not only sow seeds to plant fruit, but we also sow
fruit. We share the fruit of God with others, and they are fed and satisfied.
They can than go out and share fruit too.
We learned from this chapter
that tongue can cause destruction, and yet it is an instrument of praise. We
saw that although we can't tame our tongues, God can.
And we learned that true
wisdom comes from above. Man's wisdom does not.
As a ending scripture: Proverbs 3:13 Happy is a man that findeth wisdom, and the
man that getteth understanding.
A good lesson for each of us.
