James 3:1-12 Talking

James 3:1-12
"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our 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 a 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? Nor can salt water produce fresh."

I guess Mom was right. She always said, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all." That is basically what God is telling us here.

Three interesting, spiritual, points are made in this passage.

First, the idea that if you can control your tongue you will control your whole body. "Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well." It reminds me of something my dad used to say, "don't let your mouth write checks your body can't cash." If people followed that bit of advice it would save them a lot of trouble. Control your tongue and you will avoid having to back up what you just said. How many times have I stated, or rather overstated, something as fact and then have someone call me on it. Instead of backing down I stand firm on my erroneous statement because I am full of pride. In addition if we could just practice speaking less it would do us a lot of good. Consider this:
Proverbs 17:28
"Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise;
When he closes his lips, he is considered prudent."

A second interesting point is the idea that what comes out of the mouth is really a fruit of what is in your heart. "Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs?" That is a very true statement. If your heart is filled with anger then you will likely speak angrily. If your heart is full of bitterness then you will probably speak bitterness. If your heart is filled with love then love is what you will speak. For the Christian this is very telling. If your heart is filled with the word of God you are more likely to say and do the things of God.
Psalm 119:11
"Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You."

The third point is more relevant to me then it is to most: teachers will be judged more strictly. Notice who this passage is directed to according to verse one. Teachers. Teachers have a lot to say. Teachers influence more people then they know. Teachers have more authority then they understand. All that being said we are told in verse one that teachers will also incur a stricter judgement. What a teacher says is often taken as truth. That is why I find it so amazing that so many Christians want to teach the Bible. They don't understand the danger involved in teaching it incorrectly. The Bible is described in scripture as a sword, and if not handled appropriately you can do some real damage. As a teacher of the Bible you are representing God to people. I don't want to misrepresent God. That never goes over well.

In the book of Numbers Moses and Aaron were asked by God to speak to a rock and then God would provide water from that rock for all the people. It was supposed to be an amazing example of God blessing the very people he had chosen to go into the promised land. Instead Moses and Aaron chewed the people out calling them rebels and then struck the rock instead of speaking to it as God had instructed. The strict judgement that God handed down was that Aaron would die immediately and Moses would not be able to enter the promised land. They misrepresented God and it cost them both dearly.

Paul was afraid of this happening to him, he said in 1Corinthians 9:27: "but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified." He was afraid of making the same mistake that Aaron and Moses made. They had the very word of God and did not follow it. That is what all teachers of the Bible have, the word of God and they should know it better then most, which means they should represent it better then most in their lifestyles. If they do not they will be judged harshly by both those they have instructed and God. They must practice what they preach.

Imagine if you will your average PE/Health teacher. They preach to you diet and exercise, but if they are fat, out of shape, gluttons you will never listen to their teaching.

As a Bible teacher I struggle with this concept. I spend most of my day talking to people about the Bible, representing God. The more I talk the more chance of me misrepresenting God. Proverbs 10:19 sums it up: "When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable, but he who restrains his lips is wise." That is why I often repeat something my Pastor told me, "believe everything I read and half of what I say." I guess in a blog that should be changed to "believe everything I quote from the Bible in its proper context, and half of what I type."