24th October 2024

24th October 2024


Pray (ACts)


Read (James 3v1-6)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


As everyone knows, the Minister’s job involves just one hour per week on Sunday. I don’t do anything other than preach and when lunchtime arrives on Sunday my work is done. Well…not quite…while many have often joked about my “one day a week” it really isn’t the case. Nevertheless, the preaching that I engage in on Sunday is of vital importance, so much so that James once counselled “not many of you should become teachers” (v1). Why not? Because those who claim to understand Scripture and proclaim it will be judged with greater strictness (v1). I often consider this verse in my preparation for Sunday’s sermons - I need to be as certain as humanly possible about what I preach and teach because one day I will be held accountable for anything false that leaves my mouth.


With that said, James also stressed that the mouth of every Christian has the potential to burn a city to the ground. All of us stumble and none of us are without sin (v2a) but the words which flow from our lips can often be the most destructive. The one who never stumbles in his words is a perfect person able to control the whole body (v2b). Does such a person exist? By no means. We are at the same time justified and sinful, therefore the Christian will inevitably stumble and often the problem will be with our tongues.


The tongue is a very small part of the human body and yet it is the source of a great many boasts (v5). Just as the whole horse is directed by the small bit put into it’s mouth (v3) and the whole ship is guided by it’s very small rudder (v4), so too does the tongue play a huge part in the direction of every human life.


If you have ever been camping at the height of a dry summer then you will know the danger of an unwatched campfire or barbecue. It only takes one small spark to set a whole forest on fire (v5b). James pulled no punches in his description of the dangerous human tongue calling it a fire and a world of unrighteousness (v6b). The runaway tongue stains the whole body and just as it has been set on fire by hell, it also sets on fire the entire course of life (v6c).


I’m sure you can remember when you said things you shouldn’t have said. You felt good and justified in telling that person what you thought of them, but you quickly saw the tears welling up in their eyes and they have never been the same since. Once faithful churches have departed from the faith because of the words preached in their pulpit. Families have been ripped apart because of the row that exploded over Christmas dinner. Reputations have been destroyed by slanderous gossip which once unleashed could not be stopped.


Brothers and sisters, the tongue is a fire! It’s interesting that our churches wouldn’t tolerate someone skimming money from the collection plate but we are more than happy to turn a blind eye to those with no control of their tongues. Muriel is a gossip and we all know it. Andy’s temper often results in him threatening those around him but we do nothing. Philomena was the source of a destructive false rumour but no one was prepared to confront her. Whole forests have been burnt by one carelessly discarded match and whole communities have been devastated by one little tongue. 


May we understand the sinful potential of our words and respond accordingly. As James has already said “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1v19-20). Father God have mercy! Guide our tongues! Still our tongues! “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19v14).


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q17 Into what estate did the fall bring mankind? The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.
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