Stick out Your Tongue

522.  "Stick out Your Tongue"                     May 18, 2012
James 3-Part 2
Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, 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, whithersoever the governor listeth.
James 3:4-5


LET IT GLOW

How many times have I gone to the doctor and he told me to stick out my tongue? I say ah-h-h-h and he looks at it, then inside my mouth, at my tonsils. I suppose there is a purpose for that humiliating act. He can tell if there is infection present. My tongue may look healthy, but it could have been saying bad things that week or it could look bad and said good, kind things that week. The tongue is used to reveal what is in my heart. James uses two illustrations of that.

First, the bit is put into a horse's mouth for a reason. A bit is about six inches long, connected to the bridle. It fits onto the back part of the tongue, behind the teeth. The bridle fits over the ears, forehead, and cheek of the horse. The reins are connected to the bridle. I siad all of that so we understand the bit.
Why do we use the bit in a horse's mouth? It controls the horse. Such a small object can control a large, strong horse. The size of the bit has nothing to do with its importance, but everything to do with its use. The animal obeys its master with its usage.

When I was a child, my neighbor had two huge horses, Clydesdale type, taller than a pick-up,giants to me, that he used to plow his garden. If it hadn't been for the bit, the man surely would not have had straight rows plowed because those giant, strong horses would have gone all over the land, out of control.

Something as small as the tongue can have tremendous power, for either good or evil. (Guzik)

The tongue is a bit, a small, two-ounce bit nestled in our mouths that controls the direction of our lives. The tongue is small, but powerful.

• The tongue defiles, which is actually an expression of what is in the heart (Matt. 15). Defile means corrupt, according to Webster's Dictionary.
• The tongue defies every attempt at human control. If we didn't offend with it, we would be perfect,  but we aren't. Only Jesus was perfect and able to contol His tongue. If we surrender our tongue to Him, would He not control it?
• The tongue displays what we really are.

The ability to control the tongue implies the ability to control the whole body. Since sin usually involves the body, the ability to control the whole body involves the ability to control all forms of sin. Controlling the tongue is to control the inward sin that drives the tongue to utter sinful things. It's the key to dealing with all other sins.

Horses are strong, without understanding, and need direction in what path to go. So do people. Our words and language can be unruly or directed in a good way.
[Referneces: James, Practical and Authentic Living by Charles Swindoll and James and First and Second Peter by William Baker, John Gill Concordance]

Do I say no to sinful words or just carelessly speak what is on my mind? Say, I'm beginning to see the seriousness of our words, use of my tongue.

Romans 14:12 says, So then everyone of us shall give an account of himself to God. 


LET IT GROW

The second illustratioon James uses is that of the rudder.
A small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. (New Living Translation)

Helm, pedalion in Greek, means rudder. A rudder is a beam or biece of timber fastened into the rudder, under the ship. the steerer stands at the helm and directs, steers a large ship, moving it in the direction he wantsit to go. Wherever the pilot wants the ship to go, it is going to go. How important a small thling is.

The tongue has great influence over the whole body. Like ships on the ocean, churches, societies, and bodies of Christians, can be tossed to and fro with temptests, driven by Satan's temptations and the world's persecution, ready to be carried away with winds of false doctrine, yet influenced and directed by those at the helm, faithful ministers of the Word who say,"This is the way, walk in it." And Jesus left us directions in His Word as to how we are to walk and speak.

A small tongue has the power to control one's whole person and influence everthing in his/her life. It can speak sinfully, erroneously, and inappropriately. (MacArthur)

The tongue can also encourage, express love, ask forgiveness, say good things. Once they are said, words can't be retreived, taken back into the mouth.
How am I using my tongue?
Are others seeing me swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger? (James 1:19)

LET IT GO

Let Jesus take control of my tongue so it says the Truth, lovely and loving words.

Think before I speak. Bite my tongue if needful.

Walk away so I don't say something I might regret.