Small Yet Great

It doesn’t take much to guide a huge ship; a rudder. It doesn’t take much to control a city water supply; a valve. It doesn’t take much to direct an ICBM from our missile defenses; a button. It doesn’t take much to steer a huge piece of machinery; a wheel. It also doesn’t take much to bless or completely ruin a life; a tongue. 

In James 1.26 James tells us— “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain” Vain, empty, religion is a bad thing. Religion here is the out-show of the relationship within. If your mouth can’t be controlled, you aren’t controlled. Our mouth is directly tied to our heart according to Solomon: “The heart of him that hath understanding seeketh knowledge: but the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness” (Proverbs 15.14). We should want both to be acceptable to God, shouldn’t we? David said so in Psalm 19.14— “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” The tongue is a small thing, but a mighty powerful thing. It is small, yet great. 

James 3.1 says— “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” “Masters” literally means— ‘teachers’. “Be not many teachers”, what is he saying? We should all teach the gospel. We should all teach our kids. We are all commanded to disciple others to maturity. Remember how they would call Jesus “Master”, that is how it is used here. It is a position of a leader/teacher in the church, as in Ephesians 4— “pastors teachers”. Why does it say “not many”? Because they are held to a higher standard and therefore shall receive a greater judgement.

The word offense in New Testament scripture isn’t the same usage we use today. It means to stop, stumble, or cause to quit. We could use it as a ‘derailment’. It’s when we cause someone, or ourselves to derail from the path God has established (ie. faith). In verse 2 James continues… “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” We are all going to be offended and we are all going to offend in some way. Jesus warned of offenses in Luke 17.1— “Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!” It will happen, but we we are accountable for it. We should not want this to happen though. Focus on the word: “perfect”, which means ‘mature’ (ing). There it is… if we are prepared enough to be spiritual leaders or still a babe in Christ, is simple— are we able to control our tongue? A spiritually mature person will produce a spiritually mature mouth. Now, if you have been saved a while and still have a problem with this, then the observation is obvious… you are a backslidden Christian. What?! Hebrews 5.12 says— “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” He is referring of the tongue in James. He is referring to speaking with the tongue in Hebrews (teaching). So…

Can you control your mouth? If you can, then you control everything. 

This is a small, yet great truth. Verses 3-6 continues to expound— “Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.” 

Bits; helms; kindling are all small, but if you don’t control them, then it can do great damage. The horse out of control can kill the rider. The ship out of control can lose its cargo and kill the crew. Kindling is small, but left to itself has the potential of burning down a whole forest. The body, the church, with a mouth out of control can kill the church. 

It has to be tamed— “For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” (7-8). Let’s just call it what God calls it— an “unruly evil”… you can’t control it. The text relays the message of controlling your mouth, yet says here, no man can tame it. The answer is found in verses 11-18 which we will dive into deeper another time. For a quick heads up, look at: Ecclesiastes 5.2— “Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.” 

Again, The mouth and the heart are intimately intwined. More importantly, God is listening— “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 19.14)

In the next post I plan to explain Jesus’ direct take on our subject. From this, we will see a game plan to eradicating our inability to control our mouths. The tongue must be tamed, but you have to start with the heart. 

The tongue is indeed small, yet creates great impact. Begin now asking God to help you control your mouth. Try using it for blessings and encouragement, instead of criticism and opinion. God wants to help you with this, but you have to surrender your tongue to Him first.