James 3

Bible Passage:  James 3

Today’s chapter gives one of the most difficult lessons that I must learn … and is indeed one that I know a lot of us are struggling with as well… this is the question of proper speech.   Verbal attacks, like favourtism (James talked about it in the last chapter), are lethal to the Christian family.

James made 3 points:

1. Small things – the tongue in this case – can and often do control a larger whole;
2. The source of all evil is hell – Satan’s stronghold;
3. When we Christians allow our tongue to be influenced by hell’s forces, the result is severe “double mindedness” – a situation in which the same tongue praises God but curses people that God has made in His likeness.

The Problem (3:1-12)

Whenever I read this chapter, my heart freezes over and I start to break out in cold sweat….

“Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways….”

~ James 3:1-2a (ESV) [emphasis mine]

One of the things that I have been reflecting a lot recently is the question of whether I really should be a teacher.  Because of the various duties I have in church, I have been entrusted to teach the RE children, lead Bible studies in home fellowships and also hymn services.  And since I am the head of my household, I am also to lead the family….

We have read in Hebrews that there is an expectation that as Christians mature they become teachers of the Word:

“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food.”

~ Heb 5:12

Being in Church for such a long time, it is expected that I should be matured now and have no need for milk but am partaking solid food.  And with this maturity comes responsibility.

James was warning the teachers and wanna-be-teachers that while wanting and being a teacher is great…. it is to be accompanied with much heavier responsibilities… and more importantly… accountability.

The previous blog writers have stated how the book of James is a book of action and how practical it is… and today’s chapter is no way different….

Reading through Chapters 1 and 2 again before today’s chapter, I see a clear train of thought that James is trying to teach me…

Already in Chapter 1, James talks about speech….

So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; ~ James 1:19

If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. ~ James 1:26

We all know about the ‘slow to speak” bit.  How many of us actually practice that?  But that is not the worst of it all…. in James 1:26 he is essentially saying that if we do not control our tongue, we are deceiving ourselves and our faith in God is useless!  Zero!

Then in Chapter 2, he continues by saying…

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? ~ James 2:14

You may not see it here but the way I read it, it is as if someone talks religion but does not live religion…

And now in Chapter 3, James goes into a whole discourse about the tongue.  Human speech, like man’s works, is a window into the heart of man.  In Mark 7:20, Jesus said that it is what comes out of man that defiles a man.

The examples that James gave about how, despite being so small, the tongue can control a man is quite clear, and so I will not elaborate on it.

But now piecing all these verses together, it does serve as a strong warning for me….

As a teacher… we teach with our words.  We also teach with our actions.

And although it does seem that when James says “we all stumble in many ways” in 3:2 – he was referring to the tongue only, I look at it with a wider perspective to also mean that we who talk a good talk – about the Words of God and His teachings – we must also be sure to walk the good walk – obeying His Words and submitting to His Holy Will at all times.

It is so easy to go through the motions, to have the form of godliness (2 Tim 3:5), to sing praises to God (3:9-10) – but actually live a life that is remote from what we preach and teach.

The Solution (3:13-18)

It seems that James has left us is a desperate situation.

Who can control our tongue?  Who can live a life that is hypocrisy free and actually practice what we preach?

How can we get free from this terrible power and become perfect?

But James gives us an answer.  We do not rely on our own power and wisdom.  We must, instead, trust in God’s divine wisdom.

If we read through the last section of this chapter carefully, James was trying to show us the difference between a person that has divine wisdom and one who does not.

The truly wise person is characterized by his good life – meaning that it is a way of life that is good according to the teachings of Jesus.  The person will also show deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. (James 3:13).

One of the problems that the churches then were facing was that teachers were attacking one another and aggressively pushing their ‘teachings’.  Many wanted to jump onto the bandwagon and be recognized as teachers even though they were not ready.  False teachers wade in as well!  And they did this out of envy and pride.

Why do we want to teach?  Why do we want to do certain works in Church?  Examine and see if they indeed are done in humility that comes from wisdom.

The only true protection against this false wisdom, pride and evil in the tongue is God’s wisdom.

Reading the list that James gives as to the characteristics of true wisdom is like reading the fruit of the Spirit that we just read in Gal 5:22-23….

• It is pure – a person who is sincere in obeying God and does not have any twisted motives in their desire for holiness and serving God.
• It is peace-loving – a person who brings peace to the church and no conflicts arises.
• It is considerate or gentle – Look up Phil. 4:5; 1 Tim. 3:3 for such a person
• It is submissive – a person who is willing to learn, be corrected and will willingly respond to godly guidance and instructions
• It is full or mercy and good fruit – a person who is always merciful and giving – just like our Heavenly Father
• It is impartial and sincere – a person who has set his heart to solely follow Jesus and is not double-minded (1:8).  The term sincere means there is no falseness or play-acting in our actions.  As the person is in Church, so is he away from Church.

Finally for us teachers… just some encouragement for you as much as it is for me…

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.”

~ 2 Tim 2:15-16

Let us reflect on this as we start this week.  Have a great week ahead!