JAMES 3:6-8 HOW BAD IS IT?

6 The 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. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

There are times when we say something and our reaction is “Where did that come from?” But, more often than not, we know all too well where our words come from. Although spoken in haste, or the “heat of the moment,” such words express what we are really thinking. We may know better, but there is integrity between thought and word. It is a sign of social awareness and maturity when we learn not to blurt out every thought that comes into our mind. Yet even the most savvy communicators in our culture seem to consistently be caught saying something that is damaging to them and those around them. In this age of instant and widespread communication the situation is only made worse.

With the annual forest fires in California in our minds, the metaphor of fire is quite apt for the tongue. Like a fire in the forest, if the tongue is not properly controlled its effect will spread rapidly and widely. We have all been on both the giving and receiving side of gossip, lies and innuendo. The subtle but real power of a well placed suggestion can turn a positive interview or evaluation into a session where everyone present ends up piling on negative comments resulting in the unfair rejection of the individual.

The tongue is a powerful force in this world and the negative use of the tongue is ultimately motivated by our self-centered nature. When have we said something negative about our neighbor when it has not offered the possibility of advancing ourselves in some manner? Is not this the example set for us by the Father of Lies in Genesis 3 when he suggested to Eve that God gave the humans the command not to eat of the tree in order that they be kept from being like God? Self-centeredness is the root of all sin and the motivation for the destructive use of the tongue. It follows that St. James is not exaggerating when writes that the tongue is set on fire by hell itself.

As the expression of our sinful nature, of which we are powerless to remedy on our own, the control of the tongue will only be possible through an outside power. As we cannot save ourselves, we cannot totally tame the tongue. Like salvation our tongue-control can come only from God through the Holy Spirit. On the other side of the equation, just as we control a horse with a bridle, perhaps we cannot give total control of our lives over to God without giving him control of our tongues.

I acknowledge Lord that my tongue is a powerful instrument for evil and is not under my control. May I be transformed from within by the work of the Spirit so that my self-centered thoughts will become God-centered and neighbor-centered thoughts. Empower me to give control of my tongue over to you so that my entire life might come under your control. Amen.