James 3:2 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.
James 3:3 If we set bits in the horses' mouths to make them obey us, we can turn their whole bodies about.
James 3:4 Likewise, look at the ships: though they are so great and are driven by rough winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines.
James 3:5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood {or} how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze!
James 3:6 And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating {and} depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man's nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna).
James 3:7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea animal, can be tamed and has been tamed by human genius (nature).
James 3:8 But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison.
James 3:9 With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness!
James 3:10 Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so.
James 3:11 Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter?
James 3:12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine figs? Neither can a salt spring furnish fresh water.
James 3:13 Who is there among you who is wise and intelligent? Then let him by his noble living show forth his [good] works with the [unobtrusive] humility [which is the proper attribute] of true wisdom.
James 3:14 But if you have bitter jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry, selfish ambition) in your hearts, do not pride yourselves on it and thus be in defiance of {and} false to the Truth.
James 3:15 This [superficial] wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual (animal), even devilish (demoniacal).
James 3:16 For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil {and} vile practices.
There has never been a time in my writing devotions online or blogs where I have picked out the scripture or really noticed what I was even typing. I get the scripture off the calendar and paste it on and then I just type as I am looking at the verses. It is interesting to me but I try to just write what comes up in me as I read the verses. The verses in blue are comparing the tongue with fire, a rudder, and my favorite comparison is a bit for a horses mouth. They do not like that bit when you put it in there. Horses also wear blinders on the side to protect them from being spooked by moving objects so their vision is straight ahead. selah. Verses 12 on would seem to be "what" happens when the tongue "is" all the above descriptions. The Bible says: "Even a fool is considered wise if he remains silent." God is always wanting us to "be still" and know .. but today it is very hard to simply be quiet, do not respond, do not answer back, take a deep breath and not internalize the cruel words people say. They are like swords they don't seem to see in their possession. In one verse it says, women remain silent, and I like that one because it is the one verse that does not tell me men shall be in control of all things, it tells me that men simply do not have a tongue that immediatly responds out of uncontrolled emotions and attacks people and has so much to say. One woman once approached me with uncontrollable sobs and said: "Well, as a pastors wife..bla bla bla,,,and I thought, oh, gee, you are giving your title before you let me have it. Gee, I am a former Pastor's wife, shall we go at it with our self important titles of positions of authority to tear down people with? Let God fight your battles for you and begin to "try" to change "how" you speak to people because some day we have to answer for every idle word that comes out of our mouths while we are alive here on earth. The human tongue of a baby quickly learns "no," so let's all ask the Holy Spirit to begin to check us on our words, how we say them, what is really coming up in us; is it anger, jealously, resentments and other unhealthy results? One big thing I have noticed is the lack of respect and honor shown before we speak. Train your tongue while you have it because when you dont need it any longer? You will still have to answer for it's use.
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