The power of the tongue is perhaps seen most clearly in moments of anger. When we are angry we blurt out things, often things we didn’t mean to say. Sometimes we apologise and say something like, ‘I didn’t mean that’. But anger doesn’t create words and emotions in us. They are already there. They are shot out in anger from a seed or kernel already in our heart.
This is why James warns us to be quick to listen - so that we have all our facts straight, so that we understand the situation, so that we have not been mislead or based our feelings and thoughts on only a part of the information.
This is also why we are told to be slow to speak. Often we blurt things out, especially in anger. Often we say things that ought not to be said. And when we have, it’s too late. The reality of what’s in our heart is out. That’s why James tells us to be slow to anger. Man’s anger does not lead to the righteous life that our God has called us to.
Rather, we are to get rid of the moral filth (within our hearts and minds) and
the evil around us that is so prevalent. We are to accept the Word of God planted within us. As we’ve seen last week, the word must be bearing fruit in us. We must be good soil, encouraging growth and fruit bearing in the Word.
Verse 26 shows one area of fruit bearing in our lives that comes from accepting the Word planted in our hearts.
If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.
My words either prove or deny my religion (not interpreted as doing things to please God but as my actions and life flowing out of God’s love for me). If I cannot bridle the tongue, if I cannot keep a tight reign on it then my religion is shown to be utterly worthless. In a sense, with an unbridled tongue, I am like a person pretending to be a millionaire but with Monopoly money. It’s worthless and I have deceived myself.
Prayer:-
- Pray for our brothers and sisters in Kyrgyzstan as racial riots and ethic fuelled violence has erupted lately. Pray that the believers (who always seem to be attacked and persecuted in these times) are courageous lights for Jesus. Pray that many would come to the faith through their witness. Pray for peace and stability in the region.
- Pray for our Committee of Management as they seek to manage the funds we have. Pray that every family and every person will give generously so that their work will be a joy not a burden. Ask God to grant them wisdom, insight and unity.
Do It Today
Read James 1:27. Determine what you can be doing for orphans and widows in distress. What other neglected groups can you be helping?
No comments:
Post a Comment