Nobody is Perfect...
James Chapter 3It is the little things in life that count the most. James chapter three talks about the way we control our tongue or really the things that we say.
Scripture: James 3:2 (The Amplified Bible)
“For we all often stumble and fall and offend in many things. And if anyone does not offend in speech [never says the wrong things], he is a fully developed character and a perfect man, able to control his whole body and to curb his entire nature.”
Observation: The tongue is such a small part of our anatomy and yet it is the most powerful muscle we have. With it, kingdoms have risen and fallen. With it, enduring and lifelong relationships have been forged or destroyed. How many times have I thought, “why did I say that” or “I should say something?” Too many times I have gotten myself in trouble by just opening up my big mouth and saying something stupid or insensitive. With my mouth I have hurt the people I love the most and damaged relationships just by saying the wrong thing or not saying anything at all. The tongue is very accurate as an instrument of conveying what is really happening inside of us. James says that someone who can control their words is really a “perfect” person. This refers to what is happening to them on the inside. Not in their physical bodies but in their minds and self thoughts. Our words are a form of self-speak, in that, we say what we are feeling, what is really in our hearts. Read what Luke 6:45 says;
“The 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.”
James is telling us that the more “perfect” we are will indicate how secure we are in Christ. It will show how mature we are in understanding just who we are in Christ. James is telling us that our state of wholeness inside will control what we say.
Application: The practical part of this is so simple and yet so overwhelming. Will I continue to allow God to do a work in me? Will I ask the Holy Spirit to expose the places of hurt inside of me? Hurting people will hurt people. Out of my own pain and insecurity I wound others. I can try to exercise self control but that will simply be an attempt of futility. Sooner or later my pain will spill out of my mouth. I would rather surrender to the Holy Spirit and ask Him to help me listen to His promptings of being quiet or speaking up. When I fail to listen I need to go and deal with my damaging speech and ask forgiveness and immediately seek reconciliation. I need the love of Jesus in my speech not for flattery (I Cor. 13:1). I need to allow my speech to be an instrument of God for encouragement and direction, to bless others and never to curse God’s creation.
Prayer: Oh God, may I hear you today and obey! Help me to be silent or speak your words of life. Help me to give life with my speech and never to take away from it. Reveal my hurt and insecurities and help me to trust that my circumstances are an instrument that you are using to make me more whole. Amen.
