2023/08/14 – James 3: Taming the Tongue & Two Kinds of Wisdom
Jerry Starling
Online Activity Today
Reading: James 3 – Taming the Tongue & Two Kinds of Wisdom
Verse for Today: (James 3:2) All of us make many mistakes. Anyone who makes no mistakes is perfect, able to keep the whole body in check with a bridle.
Daily Devo
In 1:19 James said, “Be quick to listen & slow to speak.” In Chapter Three, he turns to controlling our speech, by saying, “Not many of you should become teachers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.”
(Now I hear Jerry Holder crying because he oversees the Bible School program and needs teachers!) James does NOT say any of you become teachers. Look at verses one and two together. Also, consider Hebrews 5:12, “By this time you ought to be teachers, but need someone to teach you again the A-B-Cs of God’s Words.” You still need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is still an infant. Verse two freely acknowledges that we all make mistakes.
Anyone who makes no mistakes is perfect, able to control the whole body with a bridle, as we put bits into horses’ mouths to make them obey us. Or look at ships guided by a small rudder wherever the pilot directs. “So the tongue is a small member, but it boasts of great exploits. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!” The tongue is a fire. It stains the whole body and is itself set on fire by hell, a sentiment I am sure the citizens of Maui have now.
Can you tame your tongue? No, you cannot! But God can and does tame the tongues of myriads of Christians through His Holy Spirit and the grace of Jesus Christ. When we live under His mercy, we can hear His voice in Scripture and follow His guidance. Brother Holder, these are the people you want as teachers!
From the same mouth come blessings and curses, which ought not to be. Does a spring of water gush fresh water and salty? Nor should we expect olives to be on a fig tree.
“Who is wise and understanding among you?” Show by your life that you, like Jesus, are meek and lowly in heart and your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
But if you have bitterness, envy, and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such ‘wisdom’ is not from Heaven, but is earthly, unspiritual, and devilish. Where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is also disorder and wickedness of every sort.
Heaven’s wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy, and good fruit without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. Note that “willing to yield” does not mean to compromise Scripture. The wisdom described here is one that listens to God’s will in His Word and obeys it. It means the wise man is not merely a hearer of the Word but is a doer who acts.
The two kinds of wisdom are devilish and Heavenly. Which of these do you pursue?
Heavenly Hellish
Pure Unspiritual
Peaceable Envious
Gentle Selfish Ambition
Willing to yield Rigid
Merciful Wicked
Good Fruits Thorns & Thistles
A harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Pray for Your Self: Father, give me more wisdom than I have, and give me peace and purity, for this is my prayer, in the precious name of Jesus, AMEN!
My Prayer for You (and for me) Father, I offer this prayer for all who may read these words. I pray that each of us will look at the damage wrong use of the tongue can produce. It truly is a fire, a world of iniquity. Teach us to keep a bit on the tongue, that we may control it. This is my prayer, in the holy name of Jesus, AMEN!
Updates for Central
Game Night will be August 19 beginning at 6:30. Bring your favorite game and be prepared for a lot of fun, fellowship, and camaraderie.
Our Next Potluck Fellowship will be August 27. Bring a dish to share, invite your family, friends, neighbors, and have good fellowship, food, and camaraderie.
Son Quest is September 1-3. If you are going, start thinking about what to take and what to leave home. Who will your roommates be? Get ready for three days of fun mixed with some great Bible teaching. Come back fired up for Jesus!
Our Eastern European Mission “Million Dollar Sunday” contribution will be on September 24. Our entire contribution that day will go to EEM to provide Bibles for the former Soviet bloc nations. Last year, EEM distributed almost two million Bibles, up 24% from 2021. They expect to have more this year. Ukraine also received $2 Million in benevolent help due to the war.
PRAYER NEEDS
Joan Berry, Joanna Turner’s Mother, needs our prayers.
Belinda Pate is at home but is not walking well.
Sarah, Bill Leavitt’s friend in the Philippines, has broken her hand and is in the hospital. He asks us to pray for her.
Carol Grandey, Brenda Schmidt’s sister, is home following surgery. Now, we need to pray for her rapid recovery.
Jesse Matthews, Sr. fell, injured his shoulder, and has been in the hospital. Ruth said last Sunday he might be going into rehab soon. She needs prayers as much as Jesse does.
Kristi Holder is slowly recovering from her surgery. Some progress each day, Jerry said, but she improves daily – bit by bit.
Joy Bland found she has a broken bone in her foot that requires a boot to help it heal. She will have it for about six weeks, with an MRI (hopefully) coming soon. She recently told me she really needs our prayers to help her through.
Gale Harnish is home, but not well. Keep her in your prayers.
Susan Allen’s sister Debi is not well at all. Please remember her in your prayers.
Please let us know when you have events to publicize, are in the hospital, or are sick and need prayers. If you request prayer for someone, let us know when to take them off the prayer list. You can contact me by text or phone at 407-453-5392.