Digging Deeper (James 3:7-12)

Digging Deeper 16 James 3:7-12

 Knowledge is a powerful tool, without it physical strength can do nothing. We put a lot of emphasis on doing the right thing which is very important but how can we do the right thing if we do not know the right thing to do. God tells us in the James 1:5 But if any of you lack wisdom , let him ask God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But wisdom does not just fall out of the sky, there is a wealth of knowledge to be had, more than we could ever imagine in the precepts of God’s Word but we must seek after it. 2 Timothy 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. How much does our life change if we start reading and following the directions.

Digging deeper is an effort to increase our knowledge that our faith is increased enabling us to be pleasing to God. Now let’s dig a little deeper.

James 3:7 For every species of beast and bird, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed, and has been tamed by the human race. James is continuing his discourse concerning bringing our communication under control. He is using the illustration that somehow we have managed to tame all the animals. Hidden in here is a lesson, how do we manage to tame wild animals? We take an animal when it is young and we train it not to do the things that would come natural to it. Maybe the tongue is the same way, maybe when it is young it can be trained not to do what comes natural. Here is a quick illustration when I was young maybe 7 or 8 years old me and a buddy of mine were outside but close to the house and we were using some words that we had heard, we knew they were not good words but for some reason they felt really cool to say. When I came in the house my mother had heard every word and to my surprise did not scold me but said these six words that would change my life “Jesus heard every word you said” I think it was my first experience with real conviction. My intention here is not for you to think that since then I have always been able to control my tongue, I have not, but because I was taught young who Jesus is and His expectations of how we should communicate certainly made a difference.

James 3:8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. What an awful description, restless evil and deadly poison. Restless means that something has a difficult time waiting so the tongue is not only evil but it can’t wait to be evil! In the flesh man just looks for opportunity to use communication as weapon. Do we not find ourselves in situations where we can’t wait to share and or hear the latest gossip? And not only can the tongue not wait but when it lets go it is a killer. The word that James uses is deadly. Poison will make someone sick but deadly poison will murder someone. These are powerful words but they really bring to light the awesome power of our communication and I use the word communication because too often in our contemporary high tech society we hide behind texts and emails and claim to have not said anything. Lives are being affected by the quiet yet poisonous use of social sites and texting.

James 3:9-12 With it we bless the Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does the fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Neither can salt water produce fresh. There is a reason that we do not use the same pipes for our water and our sewer, it would be disgusting. What does our praise on Sunday morning sound like to our Holy God from the same mouth that gossiped and poisoned and complained all week. James makes it very clear that we cannot bless God with the same mouth that spews deadly poison. A fig tree does not produce olives and neither does a gossip produce praise.

Now that we have dug a little deeper what do we believe?

What do we believe about God? 

1.    God desires to give us the knowledge to do what is right.

2.   God will not receive praise from a filthy mouth.

What do we believe about ourselves? 

1.    It is important for us to train young mouths to say good things.

2.   Man’s tongue cannot wait to be evil.

3.   Our communication can be a deadly poison.

4.   We cannot praise God with the same mouth that spews filthy communication.

Covenant Church 210 Station Rd, Wilmington, NC 28405 (910) 395-5800