Loose Ships Sink Ships
James 3:1-12
Intro
During WWI, enemy spies used to hang around the British pubs to hear loose talk about ship movements. Sailors would talk about their next assignments, where they were going, when they were leaving—vital information for the German submarines. Just a few careless words would tip the enemy off and thousands of lives would be lost. A slogan was raised to remind people of the terrible devastation that could result from words ill spoken, “Loose lips, sink ships”. The problem of careless talk was so great that the government began to put up posters like the example I have on the overhead.
James gives a similar warning to the church. Follow with me as we read James 3:1-12.
3:1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The 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.
7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. NIV
I. James illustrates the power of the tongue using 6 metaphors.
(1) He likens the tongue to the bits we put in horses mouths. We can control a 2,000-pound horse with a small bit in his mouth. (2) He likens the tongue to the rudder of a ship. A huge ship can be steered in any direction with a relatively small rudder. James’ point in these two metaphors is this. The tongue is a small part of our body. Because it is so small we might think it is rather inconsequential. We might think the words we speak are really no big deal. But James is telling us to think again. Our words can set the whole direction of our lives.
Romans 10:8-10
8But what does it say? "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: 9That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. NIV
In my heart I believed on Jesus as my Lord and Savior. But it was and is the verbal confession of Christ that seals that holy transaction. The day I confessed Christ as my Lord my life took on a whole new direction. Twenty-eight years ago I stood before a church full of people and said two words that changed my life forever—“I do.” With those two words I united with the love of my life in a sacred covenant. Those two words set the course of my life from that time forward.
In verse 6 of James 3 another powerful metaphor is used. (3) “The tongue also is a fire.” Last year a fire in Northern California burned over 14,000 acres resulting in one fatality. It took 1350 firefighters to put the blaze out. Do you know how that horrific fire got started? It started from one small spark made by a 15-year-old boy playing with matches. James writes, “Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.”
How could just a few words of gossip destroy a friendship, a marriage, a ministry, a church? Just a few words—it seems all so small and insignificant. But James says those little sparks can cause great destruction.
James uses (4) the metaphor of wild, deadly animal to describe the tongue. It’s like a vicious lion. It’s like a mean tiger. It’s like a deadly cobra—restless and full of poison.
But James says there’s one big difference between these wild animals and the tongue.
Man has found ways to tame and control deadly animals. Isn’t it amazing to watch a lion tamer in a cage full of lions with only his whip and chair? Isn’t it amazing to watch a snake charmer play his flute and take a deadly cobra in hand? But the one thing man does not seem to be able to tame is the tongue.
James’ (5)th metaphor is in verses 9-11—the tongue is like a fountain of water. But James says when that fountain gives clean, refreshing water on the one hand and them gives polluted water on the other hand something is wrong. He’s talking about the Christian who comes to church on a Sunday morning like this and joins in on the songs of praise and worship—out of his or her mouth flows thanksgiving to God. But then that same person Monday speaks words of slander, tells dirty jokes. Something is wrong. It’s not natural for a fountain to pour out clean water and then turn around our pour forth polluted water. “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessings and cursings.” James is saying there ought to be a consistency in our talk.
(6) The metaphor of the fig tree is injected in verse 13 to call for the same consistency. A good tree ought to bear good fruit all the time. A fig tree does not bear olives. A grapevine does not bear figs. If Christ dwells in us the fruit of our lips should be consistent with the reality of what we are.
When we read further in James 3 and into James 4 we see more clearly what James is getting at. There were conflicts between people in the church—conflicts caused by wrong attitudes and wrong motives. Conflicts caused by harsh and unkind words. So James talks to them about the way they talk to and about one another.
All through his epistle James talks about the discipline of our tongues. In James 1:26 he writes, “If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.” Isn’t that an amazing statement? We can attend church; we can preach, pray, prophecy. We can give our tithe. But if our tongue is out of control--if we’re speaking evil of other people--our religion is worthless.
Paul encountered this problem at the church in Ephesus and Thessalonica. He links the problem of gossip with idleness. 2 Thes. 3:11 “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies. Such people we command and urge in the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and earn the bread they eat.” In other words, if I’m really doing the work the Lord has given me to do, I don’t have time to be a busybody. I don’t have time to get on the phone and listen to gossip. I’ve got to keep moving to get everything done. If we have trouble with gossip, part of the solution is the work that needs to be done.
Paul goes on to tell those people that if a gossip does not change his or her ways, just leave them alone. Prov. 20:19 “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;
Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips.” NKJV
“The tongue has the power of life and death...” Prov. 18:21 NIV
James has warned us of the destruction that comes through the wrong use of the tongue.
But Scripture does not just warn us against an unruly tongue,
it also calls us to nurture a wholesome tongue.
Prov 15:1-4
A soft answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
2The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.
3The eyes of the LORD are in every place,
Keeping watch on the evil and the good.
4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life,
But perverseness in it breaks the spirit. NKJV
A perverse tongue, a crooked tongue, forked tongue wounds the spirit.
But a wholesome tongue is a tree of life.
I want my tongue to be a tree of life for others, don’t you?
I want my tongue to bring health and strength and encouragement to my brothers and sisters.
II. What should we keep in mind as we nurture a wholesome tongue?
1. Soft answers hurt less than harsh answers.
How do I minimize conflict in my life? One way is to use soft answers rather than harsh answers.
In Prov. 15:1 Solomon contrasts soft answers with harsh answers
Soft answers are “tender, delicate, gentle” answers. Their effect is to reduce conflict.
We give soft answers by the tone we take as well as the words we chose.
“I’m sorry that you feel that way,” means something different than
“I’m sorry that you feel that way.”
Harsh answers are “hard, offensive, painful” words. Their effect is to intensify conflict.
“Blessed are the peacemakers for theirs is the kingdom of God.”
I came across a saying years ago that’s a good reminder for all this. The author wrote,
“I’m careful of the words I say
to keep them soft and sweet,
I never know from day to day
which ones I’ll have to eat.”
2. Remember: Encouragement strengthens more than criticism.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, “The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue,
to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught.” Isa 50:4 NIV
God gave us a tongue so we could glorify Him in our praise and worship. In Ps 71:23-24
David prayed , “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you--
I, whom you have redeemed.
24My tongue will tell of your righteous acts all day long...”
The number one reason God has given us a tongue is so we can express our praise, our gratitude, our worship to Him.
The second reason He has given us a tongue is so we can encourage one another.
Isaiah says, “The Lord has given me an instructed tongue...”—instructed by the Holy Spirit.
Why? So I can share a word that sustains the weary. Do you know any weary people? At some point in time we all get a little weary. When we’re weary we don’t need criticism. We need encouragement. Any fool can criticize. Any fool can find something wrong with anyone. But it takes an instructed tongue to encourage the weary.
Heb 3:13 “Encourage one another daily.”
How many know what happened to Isaiah’s tongue in his encounter with the Lord in Isaiah 6?
Remember how he saw the Lord high and lifted up—a glorious vision of the pre-incarnate Christ? What was his immediate reaction in the presence of a holy God? He was immediately convicted about his speech.
Isa 6:5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
Isaiah felt an awesome accountability for his words. Why? Because words are an expression of the heart. Jesus said, (Luke 6:43-45)
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.” NIV
A gossipy mouth is not just a gossipy mouth—but it betrays a gossipy heart.
A murmuring mouth is not just a murmuring mouth—but it betrays a murmuring heart.
A slanderous mouth is simply the extension of a slanderous heart.
But God had a solution for Isaiah and He has a solution for our struggles as well.
Isa. 6:6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for." NIV
Isaiah became a person who refreshed the weary with words of encouragement.
(3). rd reminder: Confronting someone in the spirit of love is better than talking behind their back.
We are to “speak the truth in love.” How can we know we’re speaking in love? It’s more than a tone of voice—although the tone can be a part of it. It’s more than diplomacy. Although, wise diplomacy is important. But love primarily has to do with motive. Why am I speaking to that person? Is it to justify myself? Is it to win an argument? Is it simply to end an argument? Or is it to pursue with all my heart my brother or sister’s highest good.
In one episode of “Seinfield” George is complaining about someone to Jerry. Jerry said to him, “Why don’t you just tell him how much this upset you?” George said, “I’m much more comfortable talking about someone behind their back than to their face.” It takes courage to follow Matthew 18. It takes courage to go to the person your upset about and work through it.
One reason people gossip is insecurity. When we know we are doing exactly what God wants us to do—when our souls are at rest and at peace we can afford to leave the matter with God. But if we’re not so sure God’s going to back us up, we tend to go find people to agree with us. Haven’t you found it much easier to control your tongue when you know you have done right and are simply resting in God?
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31 NIV
It’s amazing what we can say to a person who absolutely knows we love him or her.
(4) Words seasoned with Grace are better than words sprinkled with judgment.
Col 4:6
6Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. NIV
How many are glad God has shown you some grace? All He asks that we do is pass it on.
“Pastor, you don’t know how much that person hurt me?” Was it greater than the cross?
Was it greater than Jesus’ pain at Calvary?
“How often should I forgive..”
“I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.” Matt 18:22 KJV
Isn’t it amazing how easy it is to explain, justify, excuse the things we do and how hard it is to understand and forgive the things others do. “Why I meant no harm. I was really trying to help.”
Proverbs 31:26 describes the honorable woman with these words.
“She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness. “NKJV
Wouldn’t it be nice to be known that way? When he opens his mouth, wisdom comes out.
And in his tongue is the law of kindness. I’d like to be known than way.
I want to conclude with three prayers worth praying.
1. A prayer of purpose: Ps 17:3
3You have tested my heart;
You have visited me in the night;
You have tried me and have found nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
NKJV
2. A prayer for purging/cleansing: Ps 19:12-14
12Who can understand his errors?
Cleanse me from secret faults.
13Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins;
Let them not have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
And I shall be innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
NKJV
3. A prayer for protection: Ps 141:3
3Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.
NKJV
Perhaps the Lord is leading you to pray one or more of those prayers right now?
9-14-03
Richard Tow
Grace Chapel Foursquare Church
Springfield, MO
www.gracechapelchurch.org
