Placing a Guard upon Your Lips
by F. Paul Haney © 1/2007
Most of us talk too much. —Any argument there? I thought not. The tongue, says James, can get us into deep trouble. He also warns us about striving to become teachers of the brethren. That is, we all have something to say and we all know that we are right, so we want to help others understand how wrong they are. (I know one preacher who calls himself “The Teacher”!
James wrote:
Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that
we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what
he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also” (Jas.3:1-2).
So the advice is that we ought not all run out to try
to teach the ignorant heathen what some preacher just told us. We have been enlightened, we think, right at baptism (true baptism,
not sprinkling) and because we arrive at baptism believing we have found the pearl of great price (Matt.13:45-46), we want to share
it with friends and family. Mistake!!! I did that, too, and it was a mistake for me, lo these many years ago. So bridle your tongue, especially if you are new (several years) to the faith.
“If we put bits into the mouths of horses
that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong
winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So the tongue is a little member and boasts
of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire!” (Jas.3:3-5).
The problem is the tongue. We put our
tongues in motion before we put our brains in gear. (You can quote that.) James repeats himself for effect:
“Andthe tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle
of nature, and set on fire by hell” (Jas.3:6).
So the tongue can set a whole forest (analogy) on fire. Screaming “Fire!” in a crowded room or theater will prove how right James is. We should learn how to place a guard upon our lips so that the tongue is under control. (In reality, I am saying place a guard on your brain, your speech center, and especially your emotions.)
David's request: "Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD, keep watch over the door of my lips!" (Psa.141:3). We might emulate this prayer to great advantage.
Another fine point about this lip-guard is that we can control our outbursts and emotional responses to others
with whom we disagree. Funny how people who believe in “free speech” rights (in
On this website you will read some reasoned arguments. They may be a lot different than what
you are used to reading. Are you ready to hear them? Do you fear a contrary point of view? Do you have “ears to
hear”? #
