James wrote a short letter with a powerful punch. In chapter three, he turns his attention to the words we say. He begins with a warning for teachers: “Not many of you should become teachers … because we who teach will be held to a higher standard and to stricter judgment.” James doesn’t exclude himself from the standard or the warning. “We.”
His second sentence is equally blunt: “For all of us make many mistakes.” Three words jump out at me: all, us, and many. Once again, James is right here with “us.”
After telling us we need to be careful when we “teach” (or lecture or preach at others) and reminding us we are all prone to making mistakes, James now turns his attention to our tongues and the words we speak.
“The tongue is a fire. The tongue … stains the whole body, sets on fire the cycle of life, and is itself set on fire … But no one can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth comes a blessing and a curse. My brothers and sisters, this ought not to be so.”
James says that the tongue is small, but powerful. The tongue is like a spark that can set a forest ablaze. It might look like this today: a single word, tweet, text, or email that goes viral for all the wrong reasons or that leaves a scar long after the argument is over.
Our words are small, but their impact is huge. With the same mouth we can bless or curse, heal or harm. The same mouth that sings worship songs on Sunday can also snap on Monday morning.
It’s humbling to admit how often we slip into gossip, sarcasm, or harshness. Words are like toothpaste—once they’re squeezed out, we can’t put them back in the tube.
But there is good news. James says that we can acquire real wisdom, God’s wisdom, characterized by getting along with others. “It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy community that lives right with God and enjoys its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.” (The Message).
Words are instruments of encouragement, humor that lifts instead of wounds, and prayers that change lives. What if we treated our words like hundred-dollar bills, spending them carefully and intentionally? What if every sentence we speak is seen as an investment in building someone up and reminding them of God’s love? What if….
Prayer: Lord, let my words bring healing, laughter, and blessing, instead of damage. Teach me to speak your truth with wisdom and grace. Amen.
PS – In case you’re interested, today is National Cheeseburger Day.
