Book of James - 7- 3:1-12 True Faith is reflected by our words
In James 3:1-12 James talks about the importance of words. Words are so powerful those who teaching will be judged more severely, the tongue is such a small part of our body, and yet so powerful, finally our tongue helps diagnose our hearts.
Proof that words plus authority are powerful - Adolph Hitler – some say he may have killed his niece with his own hands, but apart from that he did not kill anyone, even if he is responsible for the death of millions.
Another reason teachers get harsher punishment is – what if they are communicating lies. What a pastor would stop promoting the gospel, and preached a different message? People would no longer hear the good news. What are some kinds of ways some church leaders have stopped teaching the gospel:
Final thought about the impact of teachers is parents – I believe that parents, are authority figures in our lives, and they play a huge role in our we view God. For example – if a parent is never happy with you, because you never seem to be able to reach their standard – the tendency for the child is to believe he will never be good enough, and struggles with the idea of God’s free gift, that is not burdensome like some parental expectations. People James is speaking more about church leaders, we all have that responsibility to teach, and their may be implications for final judgment on teachers.
3:3-6 James gives illustrations of how powerful the tongue is:
We can go further to show what a sophisticated species we are. We use the sun’s energy for electricity, we use the seasons and soil to produce crops, we use natural resources to create a lot of great things. We can do all that, and yet, we can’t control our tongues.
d) Consequence
The tongue is full of death bearing poison!
What we say reveals what is going on in our hearts. – Lk 6:45
1. 3:1 Teachers
James begins by saying that we need to be careful before rushing to become a teacher. Why is that? It is because teachers are associated with authority, we take what they say seriously, and so their words can have more damage than other people’s words.Proof that words plus authority are powerful - Adolph Hitler – some say he may have killed his niece with his own hands, but apart from that he did not kill anyone, even if he is responsible for the death of millions.
Another reason teachers get harsher punishment is – what if they are communicating lies. What a pastor would stop promoting the gospel, and preached a different message? People would no longer hear the good news. What are some kinds of ways some church leaders have stopped teaching the gospel:
- Social Gospel – focus is less on repenting from sins personally – but the focus is on making a fairer society.
- Prosperity Gospel – Jesus wants to make you happy, successful, wealthy and healthy.
- Gospel of Works – You need to do good things so that God will let you into heaven.
- License – Your sins are forgiven so you can live as you please!
Final thought about the impact of teachers is parents – I believe that parents, are authority figures in our lives, and they play a huge role in our we view God. For example – if a parent is never happy with you, because you never seem to be able to reach their standard – the tendency for the child is to believe he will never be good enough, and struggles with the idea of God’s free gift, that is not burdensome like some parental expectations. People James is speaking more about church leaders, we all have that responsibility to teach, and their may be implications for final judgment on teachers.
2. 3:2-8 Our tongue are small and yet so powerful
Verses 3:2-8 communicate that our tongues are small and yet so powerful. James says that we do all fail to use our tongues properly.a) Power of the tongue illustrated
Our tongue is so small, and yet it leads to great sins.3:3-6 James gives illustrations of how powerful the tongue is:
- V.3 he compares it to a horse bit in the horse’s mouth, which is so small but control the whole body of the horse.
- V.4 or a huge boat steered by a small rudder.
- V. 5 or a huge forest that being burned up by such a small fire.
b) Consequence
In this way our tongue which is small part of our body, defiles the whole body, by making us sin:- Lie
- Gossip
- We curse
- We swear
- We manipulate
c) 7-8 Another Illustration to prove the power of the tongue
Verses 7 and 8, still along the lines that our tongue is so powerful, is we look at how great we are as a species – we have controlled or tamed all other animals – look at zoos!We can go further to show what a sophisticated species we are. We use the sun’s energy for electricity, we use the seasons and soil to produce crops, we use natural resources to create a lot of great things. We can do all that, and yet, we can’t control our tongues.
d) Consequence
The tongue is full of death bearing poison!
3. 3:9-12 The tongues reveal our hearts
Verse 9-12 show how inconsistent we are with our words. Our words can help us to understand what is truly going on in our hearts.a) 9-10 Example
We do something that does not make sense. We praise God with our tongues, but at the same time, we curse those made in his image. This is like telling someone they are a great cook, while throwing out their food in the trash! Those two things cannot hold together. If we do believe a chef is a good chef, we will eat his food. If we love God, we will show it by loving people.b) Another illustration
Our words reveal our true state. If a fig tree produces olives, it is an olive tree. If we think we love God, but know we hate people, we hate God.What we say reveals what is going on in our hearts. – Lk 6:45
4. How can we use our words to glorify God?
- Bless
- Thank
- Forgive
- Apologize
- Speak the truth
- Encourage
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